Dennis: Unite in fight for Sarawak’s rights

MIRI: Sarawak does not have to fear the lawsuit by Petroliam Nasional Berhad’s (Petronas) but continue to defend the rights to her resources, said Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau yesterday.

“The people need to unite and support the state government in the effort to defend our rights as enshrined in the constitution, including oil and gas resources,” he said.

Petronas in a statement said an application has been filed at the Federal Court for a declaration of the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974 as the applicable law for petroleum in the country including Sarawak.

Commenting further, Dennis questioned if the issue was intentionally raised so soon after the change in government.

“I personally question why PDA has to be reviewed now and not during the previous government administration,” he said.

According to him, the 20 per cent royalty claim on oil and gas resources by the Sarawak government has yet to be resolved by the federal government.

He stressed that the five per cent royalty from Petronas to the Sarawak government for petroleum revenue derived from within and offshore of Sarawak is insufficient.

“The five per cent royalty payment is low and inadequate, so we want the central government to fulfil the 20 per cent or more of the royalty to Sarawak,” he said.

He is confident that the Sarawak government will do its best to defend Sarawak’s rights rather than be at the mercy of the national oil company.