Who is Chong to speak on oil and gas royalty?

KUCHING: The current oil and gas royalty issue can only be sorted out between the federal and Sarawak governments.

A political analyst Datuk Peter Minos said that as such, anyone claiming or pretending to represent the federal government was not doing things the correct way, until and unless that person has been officially appointed by the prime minister or the federal cabinet.

Minos said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen was only speaking as Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP Sarawak chairman, when he touched on the oil royalty issue.

“If Chong is the Prime Minister or Minister of Finance, perhaps Sarawakians can accept his words as representing the federal government, but he spoke as Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP Sarawak chairman.

“The oil and gas royalty issue can only be sorted out between Sarawak and federal governments. Anyone claiming or pretending to claim that he or she is representing the federal government is not doing it the correct way until and unless he or she is officially appointed by the prime minister or the federal cabinet.”

Minos was commenting on the latest announcement by Chong, who on Monday, said the five per cent oil royalty for Sarawak would be maintained, with an additional 20 per cent from profit.

He added that the twists and turns in Chong’s words in the last few months on the oil and gas issue were confusing.

He said Sarawak badly needed the money to catch up with the rest of the country in all aspects.

Minos added that from the federal government since 1963 was insufficient and very hard in coming by. That was why Sarawak and its people badly need more money from its oil and gas resources.

“The amount Sarawak has been getting from the federal government and Petronas since 1974 is inadequate to finance its social and economic obligation.”

He hoped that Chong would recognise the true aspirations of Sarawakians, instead of endlessly playing politics.