Oil royalty: Another of PH’s political spinning
SIBU: The oil royalty episode is another example of Pakatan Harapan’s ( PH) political spinning with their crafted talks and deceptive rhetoric at the expense of Sarawak’s rights and position.
Saying this was SUPP Youth chief Michael Tiang in response to a statement by Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali that the proposed 20 per cent oil royalty payment to oil producing states could not be implemented yet.
Azmin said it ( paying of 20 pct royalty) contravened the Petroleum Development Act 1974.
“It is now an undisputed fact that Sarawakians are being spun by PH in their election promise to give 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak.
“While the catchy phrases made by one of MPs from PH in his 14th General Election video ‘ the deal is done’, no more negotiations, no more talks and no more empty promises’ are still widely spread in social media. The chances of PH government giving 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak are close to zilch.
“First, PH Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen gave lame excuses that the giving of 20 per cent oil royalty was attached with conditions for the Sarawak government to agree to take over education and public health.
“Later, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad went on further by clarifying that the 20 per cent as promised was in fact the percentage of profit sharing from Petronas’ net profit of oil production in Sarawak, not royalty per se.
“The PM’s remarks were confirmed and supported by his Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali who now attempted to explain that only 20 per cent profit sharing was actually intended to be given to Sarawak by PH, otherwise Petronas would face grave financial implications.”
Tiang said the Sarawak government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak ( GPS) believed that Sarawak is a sovereign state that owns its own oil and gas resources within its territory.
He said the GPS is no longer interested in seeking the federal government to agree to give Sarawak a better cut out of its own oil production.
“Instead, we chose to exercise our sovereignty by setting up Petros and amending Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) to strengthen regulatory control over the exploration and prospecting for petroleum and mining on land in Sarawak for the benefits of Sarawak and its people.”
He said it was clear from Azmin statement’s that the federal government is more concerned about Petronas’ interest than the welfare and rights of the people of Sarawak.
“The people of Sarawak are not beggars. They are the owners of the oil and gas in Sarawak.
“Therefore, the people of Sarawak should be the biggest beneficiaries of the wealth derived from its oil and gas.
“And that is exactly what both Petros and OMO are meant to achieve for us,” he said.