By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Dec 20: Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang clarified that his legal firm and the one representing Petronas are two different firms, although they both bore the name “Idris”.
He stressed that he was not the “Idris” from the legal firm involved in the Sarawak government versus Petronas case.
“I wish to make a clarification that the law firm representing Petronas (who is the Plaintiff in the abovementioned case) is called Messr Idris, Alvin Chong & Partners, and it has no connection with me at all .
“I have my own small legal firm located at Jalan Matang Kuching called Idris-Buang & Associates. I am not the “Idris” in that other firm representing Petronas,” said Idris.
Idris who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief explained that the clarification needed to be made because his stance in the case had been questioned by some who assumed that the he was the “Idris” in the legal firm representing Petronas.
“I make this clarification because of some queries on my stance vis-a – vis our state rights on Sarawak sales tax and the Petronas application due to the confusion as to the commonality in the name of Petronas lawyers and that of my firm.
“I reiterate my consistent stance and stand on our fight for Sarawak rights whether under MA63 (the Malaysia Agreement 1963), the Constitution and/or our State laws , and that I will always be fighting for the best interest of Sarawak and its people.
“I will always be behind the state government led by our Right Honourable Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Jo,” said Idris.
The Comptroller of the State Sales Tax, Sarawak and the State Government have filed a writ of summons and statement of claim at the High Court registry here on Nov 21.
The claim against Petronas was to recover the 5 per cent state sales tax on petroleum and petroleum product which has been imposed by Sarawak under the Sales Tax Ordinance 1998 which was made effective beginning of this year.
It had been confirmed that Petronas owed the Sarawak government about RM1.29 billion in sales tax on petroleum products for the first half of this year. Other oil companies operating in Sarawak such as Murphy Oil and Pertamina have paid their dues. — DayakDaily
