KUCHING: The 25 Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament from Sarawak have been challenged to stand with the state assemblymen in supporting Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s fight for 20 per cent petroleum royalty from Petronas.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How who threw the gauntlet to the MPs said the Federal government could continue to ignore the demand of Sarawak for this oil justice, because the 25 BN MPs from Sarawak had not stated their unity with the Sarawak state legislative assembly on this issue.
“We demand that the 25 BN MPs from Sarawak show that their loyalty lies with Sarawak, and that all Sarawakians are in one voice in our demand for the oil justice,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
On May 6 last year, the Sarawak Legislative Assembly unanimously voted in favour of a motion to demand for an increase in oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent.
“They have been keeping quiet and had not expressed their support to their state BN chief Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his numerous public statements pushing for the 20 per cent oil and gas royalty for Sarawak.”
“I am disappointed with them. Their defiance of the chief minister is a matter for the State BN to deal with, but all Sarawakians are seeing this as a show of lack of allegiance to the state and lack of commitment to stand up for the state’s interests.”
See, who is state PKR vice-chairman was commenting on the announcement of RM90 million Petronas corporate social responsibility (CSR) contribution to Sarawak in Kuching on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the federal government should stop thinking that they can pacify Sarawak with provisional handouts. The RM90 million CSR contribution is equivalent to only 1.2 per cent of the 20 per cent petroleum royalty that Sarawak has demanded from the federal government.
“We thank Petronas for their corporate contribution but we want a firm commitment and disbursement from the federal government to deliver the 20 per cent oil and gas royalty to Sarawak and the other oil producing states.”