by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 9: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has called on Sarawak’s Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to provide clarity on the alleged agreement with the Federal government that could undermine the State’s rights over its oil and gas resources.
In a statement today, he pointed out that it would serve the interest of Sarawak and Sarawakians for the Premier to “come forth and give a reasoned and statesman’s response and clarification on the matter”.
He explained that with the lack of transparency and with only the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s written parliamentary answer to go by, the reply suggests that Sarawak has conceded control of its oil and gas resources over Petronas’ operations.
“On the other hand, what is now in public is a parliamentary reply which is an official statement by the Federal government that the Premier of Sarawak has agreed that Petronas only needs to comply with the provisions under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 for its operation in Sarawak and not subject to any other additional procedure or licencing requirements.
“This has severe and detrimental implications to our State’s rights over oil and gas extracted from Sarawak. It literally means that the State government has no say in Petronas’ operations in Sarawak,” he said.
Chong’s remarks came in response to Tupong assemblyman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman’s criticism, questioning why Chong did not seek clarification from the relevant minister during Parliament and instead raised the issue upon returning to Kuching.
He dismissed Fazzrudin’s remarks as an “uncouth outburst”, suggesting that such a response indicates there may be something to hide.
He further pointed out that Fazzrudin was not even present and privy to the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Premier and therefore, has no first-hand knowledge of what transpired and agreed between the two.
Instead, Chong, who is also the DAP Sarawak chairman, reiterated his concerns and call upon the Premier to clarify matters on whether the answer given by Azalina in Parliament was a true and fair representation of the agreement between the Prime Minister and the Premier.
He also questioned if it were not true, what actually transpired and agreed in the meeting? And if it were true, why did the Premier agree to such terms? – DayakDaily
