By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 14: Sarawak’s claim over its oil and gas (O&G) resources remains unaffected by Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), according to Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan in a press statement today.
He argued that Malaysia’s formation is legally questionable, and as such, Sarawak and Sabah should not be bound by MA63.
He criticised the federal government’s control over Sarawak’s resources, asserting that laws like the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) and the Continental Shelf Act 1966 (CSA) were passed under dubious circumstances.
“The PDA, CSA, and the Seas Territorial Act 2012 (STA) should be declared illegal or null and void and inapplicable to Sarawak and Sabah.
“The acts (PDA, CSA, and STA) were in breach of MA63 (if valid) and international law,” read the statement.
Voon’s comments follows concerns raised by former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who suggested that the Batu Puteh ruling could hinder Sarawak’s O&G claims.
While Zaid’s position focuses on legal doctrines such as acquiescence and estoppel, Voon rejected these principles, emphasising that Sarawak’s rights to its resources cannot be forfeited due to historical flaws in Malaysia’s formation.
Voon further contends that the present generation of Sarawakians cannot be bound by an agreement made without their consent, pointing out that Sarawak and Sabah were never properly consulted in the creation of Malaysia, with their inclusion being met with strong opposition from Indonesia’s president Soekarno.
“The doctrines of acquiescence and estoppel are not applicable against Sarawak and Sabah because in law, it is a fraud. There is no time limitation to pursue lost rights,” said Voon. — DayakDaily
