Abd Karim: Why beat around the bush on oil, gas royalty?

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah says the federal Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is beating around the bush, and back-peddling from one of the election manifestos - giving 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak.

Abd Karim, who is Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports said he wanted the PH government to be specific on its promise to give Sarawak 20 per cent oil royalty.

He said if the regulatory laws on the oil royalty is defective then it should be amended.

"Just be specific. If the law needs amendment, then amend it. Don't beat around the bush. Your promise in the manifesto is 20 per cent royalty. It's not 20 per cent profit sharing.

"First, it's 20 per cent royalty on production, then it's 20 per cent on profit. Now, the 20 per cent is not possible because the Petroleum Development Act 1974 only allows 10 per cent, and the Act needs to be amended first.

“Why is the PH government putting us on a wild goose chase? Or, are they trying to hoodwink us that they are not able to commit to their election manifesto pledge by giving us so many excuses?.

"Be a gentleman. Sarawak is not a small child for you to dangle carrot and goodies to. Sarawak needs lots of fund to develop its infrastructure, repair the hundreds of dilapidated schools, rural clinics, water and electricity supplies, communication system and roads. These are fair requests," said the Asajaya assemblyman.

"We are not asking for proceeds of oil and gas extracted from Terengganu or Kelantan waters to be given to Sarawak. What we want is a bigger allocation of our own oil and gas extracted from our territory to be given back to us.

“The balance can be used to develop other Malayan states and Sabah. We don't ask for all oil and gas from Sarawak to be given to Sarawak only. We understand that other states in Malaysia need to be developed too."