See Chee How
KUCHING: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How has urged the state government to demand an explanation from Petronas on its disposal of a 10 per cent stake in Petronas LNG9 Sdn Bhd, which owns the MLNG Train 9 Project to Thailand’s national oil company and partner PTTGL Investment Ltd (PTTGLI) for US$500 million (RM2.14 billion).
In making the call, See said Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg should also set a 30-day deadline for Petronas to conclude the Shareholders Agreement with Sarawak on the 10 per cent equity in the same MLNG Train 9 project.
“The state administration, particularly the Sarawak State Secretary who sits on the Board of Directors in Petronas, owes all Sarawakians an explanation why it is taking so long for Sarawak to conclude the deal with Petronas on the 10 per cent equity stake in this MLNG project in Bintulu.
“The offer was made by Petronas in August 2014 and immediately accepted by our then Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, but for three years, Sarawak’s acquisition has yet to be finalised,” he told a press conference today.
In between June 2014 to now, See pointed out that Petronas had sold a 10 per cent stake in Train 9 to a Japanese company JX Nippon Oil & Energy (JX Nippon), offered a 10 per cent equity stake in this Train 9 project to Sabah, and concluded the present disposal to PTTGLI.
“We have been slack in the deal to protect Sarawak’s rights and interests. Not only did it take three years without concluding the deal, the Petronas-PTTGLI deal was completed while the CM and the Sarawak State Secretary were on a purported ‘study tour’ to Australia and their silence after their return was deafening.”
See said it appears that the momentum of the good efforts by Adenan to regain and restore Sarawak’s sovereign rights to territorial boundary, autonomous powers and rights have now “hit a snag”.
“With regards to this equity stake in the Train 9 project, the late former CM had been most serious in its pursuit. In fact, for the reason that the project is located in Bintulu, he kept emphasising that Sarawak’s equity in the MLNG facilities and projects is our privilege and nobody can participate in them (except with Sarawak’s knowledge and consent).”
“Our CM had repeated his words in DUN (State Legislative Assembly) this May, in his winding up speech, but the CM must be seen to be taking the tasks in earnest. The disposal of the equity stake in Train 9 to a foreign company last week is utterly unacceptable.”
He hoped that the state administration will hold an inquiry into this breach and demand explanations from all parties concerned.
“I hope that it will be a thorough inquiry and there will be full disclosure of the findings to be presented to all concerned Sarawakians,” he added.