Wong King Wei
KUCHING: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei has deemed it ‘rather unfortunate’ that the Sarawak government chose to ignore the attached conditions that would enable the state to receive 20 per cent oil royalty.
“We (Pakatan Harapan) 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,” he told reporters after officiating at a Mooncake Festival organised at KMC Flats, Jalan Ban Hock here on Sunday night.
In supporting the statement made by Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen on the matter, Wong said the condition was initially offered by PH in 2018 but was rejected by the Sarawak government led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“The proposal was not accepted by the state government, so now the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) coalition under Abang Johari will negotiate a new proposal with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he said.
Abang Johari had a day earlier announced that his administration had submitted a new formula to the federal government on revenue-sharing with Petronas.
This was after the prime minister 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 jeopardise Petronas’ international standing.
Wong said he welcomed the move by Abang Johari to negotiate with Dr Mahathir, saying as long as it benefits the people of Sarawak, PH Sarawak would 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,” he added.