Wong: GPS-led state govt rejected PH’s condition for granting of 20 pct oil royalty

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Wong speaking to the press after officiating the mooncake festival organised at KMC flat, Jalan Ban Hock here on Sunday night

KUCHING: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said it was rather unfortunate for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led state government to ignore the condition attached for the federal government to grant 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak.

“We promised that 20 per cent oil royalty would be given to the state government with the condition that Sarawak has to take up responsibility over education and healthcare matters,” said Wong after officiating the mooncake festival organised at KMC flat, Jalan Ban Hock here last night.

His comment came following the statement made by Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen during a press conference convened at Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here on Sunday.

Wong said such condition was initially offered by PH coalition in 2018 but it was rejected by the state government under the leadership of Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“The proposal was not accepted by the state government so now the GPS coalition under Abang Johari will negotiate a new proposal with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he said.

On Saturday, Abang Johari announced his administration had submitted a new formula to the federal government on revenue-sharing with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas).

This followed after Mahathir said during a dialogue session with fund managers at JP Mogan headquarters in New York that it was not “workable” to give 20 per cent oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak as it would jeopardy Petronas international standing.

“Let him (Abang Johari) negotiate with the Prime Minister. As long as it is beneficial to the people of Sarawak, we will definitely support it but we have to be practical and rational as we don’t want the country to collapse just because of us demanding for 20 per cent oil royalty,” said Wong.

Moreover, Wong said that the motion to increase oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent was first tabled by Semop assemblyman Abdullah Saidol in the State Legislative Assembly in 2014 before it was unanimously approved.

The motion was initially tabled by Chong – who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman – but an amended motion which added seeking more development grants from the then Barisan National-led government was later tabled by Abdullah Saidol, who is currently an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department.