Bypassing work permits?
Suspicions aroused after Petronas offshore workers seen shifting from BPA to Miri kampung jetty to go to platforms
MIRI: Members of the public have alerted The Borneo Post that they suspect Petronas is using the jetty at Kampung Pulau Melayu here to send its workers to work on the platforms and oil rigs in the waters off Bintulu and here.
Our reporter who went to the jetty early yesterday morning to verify the report saw Petronas offshore workers taking off from the jetty.
Apparently the national oil corporation was compelled to use the jetty because Bintulu Port Authority ( BPA) has stopped Petronas offshore workers from using its port to go to D35 and Temena platforms.
When contacted, a BPA spokesman said they are complying with the immigration procedure on work permits. He added that BPA will issue an official statement today.
It has not been confirmed if these offshore workers spotted using the jetty here have work permits to work in the state.
Meanwhile, Suarah Petroleum Group ( SPG) cal led on the Immigration Department to check employees of Petronas and its subsidiary companies embarking and disembarking at the jetty to
Immigration can check offshore workers on transit from and to platforms and rigs in Bintulu and Miri waters at the jetty to ensure that West Malaysians working in the state comply with the Immigration Act. Jamel Ibrahim, SPG deputy president
ensure that they have valid work permits.
“Immigration can check offshore workers on transit from and to platforms and rigs in Bintulu and Miri waters at the jetty (in Kampung Pulau Melayu, Miri) to ensure that West Malaysians working in the state comply with the Immigration Act,” its deputy president Jamel Ibrahim told The Borneo Post yesterday.
SPG has been vocal in protesting against the recent move by Petronas to recruit junior staff from Peninsular Malaysia to replace experienced Sarawakians in its oil and gas operations in Sarawak waters.
Jamel feared that the two-week offshore shift could be easily abused by foreigners or West Malaysians as they can bypass using any work permits if they were to get out of the state every two weeks for their off days and re- enter using a fresh pass when they start a new shift.
Meanwhile, when contacted State Immigration director Ken Leben said the department will continue to freeze new work permits for Peninsular Malaysian staff of Petronas and its subsidiaries intending to work in the state.
He insisted that foreigners and Peninsular Malaysians comply with the State Immigration Act that requires them to have work permits before working in Sarawak.
“We are following the directive from the state government to freeze new work permits for West Malaysians working in Sarawak for Petronas and its subsidiaries,” he stressed.