Petronas case against S’wak misconceived, baseless — Lawyer

KUCHING: The case brought by Petroliam Nasional Berhad ( Petronas) against the Sarawak government is “misconceived and baseless” according to lawyer Shankar Ram.

He said this is because they cannot repeal the Sarawak 1958 Ordinance as stated in the Malaysia Agreement.

“One of their prayers seeking to repeal or invalidate the Sarawak 1958 Ordinance which they cannot do so because Sarawak laws prior to Malaysia Day became Federal laws by Section 73 of the Malaysia Agreement or Malaysia Act and of course the 1958 Sarawak Ordinance is strictly applicable to Sarawak but it is accepted as part of the Malaysia Agreement.”.

At the moment the State Government is asserting its fundamental rights under its laws and the constitution which will benefit Sarawakians and for the good of the whole nation.

“Our Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is on the right path and we should give him 100 per cent support on this. No Sarawak State leaders have fought for Sarawak rights the way Abang Johari has done,” he said.

“The decision by the Federal Court yesterday also smacked against those who told S ar aw a ki ans that PDA 1974 gives all oil and gas rights to Petronas as it’s a Federal Legislation and Sarawak do not have any say unless the State Government of Sarawak opt to file legal action in Court to annul the PDA,” said Shanker.

“Petronas may want to exhaust all legal avenues and can re-file their case in the High Court despite losing their first court battle over the right to ownership to oil and gas resources which they must do so in Sarawak and Sarawak will challenge them further if they dare to do so,” he added.