Petition seeks Sarawakians’ support over oil, gas issues
BINTULU: A social and human rights activist Jack Voon Kuet Fui is urging fellow Sarawakians from all walks of life to show their support by signing a petition for Sarawak to be given full rights to her natural resources including oil and gas.
“I will hand over the letter after getting signatures from the public to Petronas officials at its office in Naim Paragon here,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He added members of the public could meet him at the Bintulu Night Market at 5pm today (June 8) to pen down their signatures.
Earlier, he said he had a plan to hold a peaceful protest in front of Petronas building, and written a letter to inform the authority about the plan.
However, after meeting with Bintulu police chief at 3.30pm yesterday, Voon said the planned protest was cancelled.
He said the protest was purely in the spirit of Sarawak nationalism and not related to any political party.
The action was taken following Petronas resorting to legal action seeking a declaration in the Federal Court that the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 means it has sole control over the oil and gas resources in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, an online petition ‘ Support Sarawak Government to defend and protect Sarawak oil and gas resource’ started by Sarawak United People’s Party two days ago has garnered 9,078 signatures as at press time.
In another development, a group of concerned Sarawakians in Kuching wants the police to investigatePetronas followingtheir application to seek a declaration on the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 at the Federal Court.
According to the group’s representative K.C Tan, 15 individuals had lodged police reports at the Simpang Tiga police station yesterday after the issue came to light on June 5.
“We also hope that Sarawakian lawyers, regardless of their political parties will step up and defend the people of Sarawak,” said Tan when met outside the police station.
According to him, they are all ordinary citizens who are not in a position to employ a lawyer to fight for the state’s rights in regard to the PDA 1974. He added that Sarawakians in general do not agree to the five per cent oil and gas royalty as well as the 20 per cent royalty that was promised in Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.
“The resources belong to us ( Sarawak). It is our cake, why would we be given a meagre amount when the resources belong to us in the first place,” Tan said.
He said it would be ideal for Sarawak government to become the exclusive owner and regulator of petroleum resources in Sarawak.
In a statement issued to the media, the group said Petronas’ actions have exceeded the limit because of their attempt to seize Sarawak’s natural resources.
Sarawakians, added the statement, would not be silent on the matter and let them ( Petronas) continue and seize the state’s property.