Crucial for S’wak to defend rights over O&G resources – PBB man
MIRI: A Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu ( PBB) member believes that it is crucial for Sarawak to have its own say with regard to its rights over its land, as well as oil and gas (O& G) resources.
In this respect, PBB Piasau chairman Councillor Sardon Zainal points out that the federal government must not play ‘ tug- and-war’ when it comes to these rights, especially those over O& G resources.
“We stand behind Chief Minister ( Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg), supporting him for not compromising on the regulatory rights over Sarawak’s O& G resources,” he told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
On Saturday during the parade held in celebration of Yang Di- Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 82nd birthday, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government had amended its Oil Mining Ordinance ( OMO) 1958 to further strengthen the regulatory rights over O& G activities in Sarawak.
“Sarawak also wants all its rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63) and the Federal Constitution to be fully returned to the state,” the chief minister said in his speech.
In relation to this, Sardon slammed Works Minister Baru Bian and Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen for ‘keeping quiet’ now that the two are in the Pakatan Harapan ( PH)- led federal government.
Baru, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Sarawak chairman, and Chong, who is Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chairman, had been ‘crying for Sarawak rights’ back when they were in the opposition, said Sardon.
“Now, they are silent — they’re not pushing the issues related to Sarawak’s rights up to the federal government.”
Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Chamber ( DUBS) Miri chairman Abdul Samat Ali expressed his hope that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the whole PH federal cabinet would keep their promise of handing over Sarawak’s rights as prescribed under MA63 and the Federal Constitution “as soon as possible”.
“It’s long overdue – the people of Sarawak want their rights back so that Sarawak could continue to progress alongside other states in Malaysia,” he said.
On a separate subject, Abdul Samat expressed his hope for the Sarawak government to look into having more affordable housing projects for those from the low and middle-income brackets across major towns and cities in Sarawak.
“Also, we should seriously look into immediate plans to eradicate poverty in Sarawak before 2030,” he added.