PDP Youth lauds court ruling in Petronas suit

MIRI: PDP Youth chief Robert Ayu gave the thumbs up to the outcome of Sarawak government’s effort in the Petronas suit in the Federal Court which ruled in the state’s favour yesterday.

“The victory is a morale booster for Sarawak after the GE14,” he said when contacted for comment on the case, adding the win is a win for all the people of Sarawak.

He added all Sarawakians are very happy for the outcome of the suit.

A lawyer by profession, Robert opined that Petronas cannot refile the same application in the High Court.

“My view is it was a wrong step in the first place,” he said

In the court case in Putrajaya yesterday, Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop dismissed Petronas’ application for leave to commence proceedings against the Sarawak government and ordered the national oil company to pay RM50,000 in costs to the state government.

Petronas had filed an application on June 6 for leave to commence proceedings to seek a declaration that the Petroleum Development Act ( PDA) 1974 applied in respect of the regulation of upstream activities in Sarawak.

Basing it on Article 4 (4) of the Federal Constitution, Petronas sought the court’s declaration that the PDA was duly enacted by Parliament, and it states that Petronas is the exclusive regulatory authority for the upstream oil and gas industry throughout Malaysia, including in Sarawak.

The national oil company also sought a declaration that the OMO was impliedly repealed by the PDA.