Lina Soo
KUCHING: State Reform Party (Star) Sarawak has disagreed with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent call to Sarawakians not to politicise the oil and gas issue, and to leave the matter to the professionals.
Its president Lina Soo emphasised that every Sarawakian needs to be concerned as Sarawak’s natural resources, oil and gas in particular, belong to the people and the future generations.
“It is a major issue of Sarawak right which has been exploited and violated by the Federal government.
“This is a major breach of Malaysia Agreement, Sarawak Constitution and Federal Constitution which has resulted in 44 years of poverty and failed development, making Sarawak the poorest and most backward territory,”she said in a press statement issued today.
Soo questioned why Petros needs to discuss with Petronas on Sarawak’s oil rights when it is for Petronas to seek Petros’ approval for mining licence in compliance with Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO).
“It is for Sarawak’s Petros to manage, to govern our mining activities and to give instructions on technical and financial arrangements to Petronas, not to negotiate with Petronas in any way which can compromise our territorial and sovereignty rights,” she pointed out.
Star also queried the Sarawak government why there was no Gas Utilisation Project in Sarawak as was done in Peninsular Malaysia.
“Bintulu is one of the top three in world production of gas, yet why is Malaya given more gas subsidy as compared to Sarawak? Why is our abundant gas not piped to customers in the commercial and industrial sectors in Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan, whereas the Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) system operated by Petronas Gas Bhd has the gas pipeline linked to Singapore and Thailand?” she asked.
Stressing that oil and gas rights is a major political issue affecting all Sarawakians, Soo reminded that the Sarawak government has its duty to keep Sarawakians fully informed, with transparency and accountability.
“If political parties have to be stifled and silenced on political issues which concern our Sarawakians and which affect our future generations, then today, the government and political parties will have failed their duty and obligations to which they were elected for,” she said.