CM says Sarawak’s fight for its natural resources rights should be left to the professionals to resolve
Abang Johari gestures to the crowd upon his arrival at the Bidayuh Cultural Symposium. Behind him is Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has called for the issue of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights not to be politicised.
He said as Sarawak only wants to defend and protect its oil and gas rights, it is time to leave the matter to the professionals.
“I have asked Petroleum Sarawak (Petros) to discuss with Petronas because they know about oil and gas.
“God willing, we will be an active partner in the activities of oil and gas as far Sarawak is concerned,” he said when opening the Bidayuh Cultural Symposium organised by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) here yesterday.
Earlier, Abang Johari said land is one of Sarawak’s exclusive rights, which cannot be touched.
He noted that Sarawak established territorial domain in 1954 and the border cannot be changed.
Abang Johari pointed out that under Article 2 of the Federal Constitution, Sarawak’s border cannot be changed unless it is approved by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and the Conference of Rulers.
“Therefore, the 1954 border is Sarawak’s border and we formed Malaysia based on our single entity – Sarawak entity. We want to amend our Constitution back to the original Malaysia Agreement.
“Malaysia comprises the Federation Malaya, consisting the states of Malaya, two Borneo states – Sabah and Sarawak – and Singapore. Singapore had left but the other two – Sarawak and Sabah – must be there. We cannot be the same as Melaka, we cannot be the same as Pahang,” he said.
Abang Johari stressed that because the 1954 border remained as Sarawak’s border, the continental shelf remained as the land of Sarawak.
He also reiterated that the Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) 1958 was already there before the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) was gazetted in 1974.
“Because the OMO was already there in 1958 and PDA cannot supersede the OMO. The PDA might be relevant to them but not relevant to Sarawak.
“I have said, it is not null and void. It is still there, the law is there, but it is not relevant to us because our DUN never accepted that law, our DUN never endorsed the law. If it is not endorsed, it is not relevant to us. That is why we must defend our rights over our land,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister said he would not compromise on Sarawak’s land as well as on the oil and gas available in Sarawak because those are Sarawak’s rights.
“That is I say, if they want to bring the matter to the High Court, we will fight. If people want to overthrow me, let them go ahead.
“But the question of our rights must be protected because I’ve made an oath to protect Sarawak’s Constitution and Malaysia’s Constitution,” he added.