“After RM1 tril of outflow, time is ripe for Sarawak to wrest control of its gas resources from PETRONAS”
By Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew
22/11/2024
THERE has been several prominent news carried by national media portraying a negative image on Sarawak’s stand of appointing its own petroleum company PETROS (Petroleum Sarawak Bhd) as the sole aggregator of gas for gas extracted from Sarawak territory.
The latest was by former de-facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who used the words “blackmail” and “threats” to describe Sarawaks action.
This has prompted Sarawak’s Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, to give a very forceful and fact-based response during his winding speech at the Sarawak Assembly sitting on Monday (Nov 18t).
22/11/2024
THERE has been several prominent news carried by national media portraying a negative image on Sarawak’s stand of appointing its own petroleum company PETROS (Petroleum Sarawak Bhd) as the sole aggregator of gas for gas extracted from Sarawak territory.
The latest was by former de-facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who used the words “blackmail” and “threats” to describe Sarawaks action.
This has prompted Sarawak’s Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, to give a very forceful and fact-based response during his winding speech at the Sarawak Assembly sitting on Monday (Nov 18t).
Source: Dayak DailyIt is unfortunate that the Sarawakian voice has not echoed throughout the country as the rebuttal was not covered by the mainstream national media.
It is worth highlighting some of the salient facts that Julaihi who is also the Sebuyau state assemblyman had brought up:
- Sarawak accounted for over 60% of natural gas produced in Malaysia. Out of this, 94% is used by PETRONAS to convert to LNG (liquefied natural gas) for the export market.
- All the gas produced offshore Peninsular Malaysia are retained for use in West Malaysia states to support local industries or sold for power generation by independent power producers (IPP) at subsidised rates.
- In stark contrast, only 6% of Sarawakian natural gas are allocated for local industries and power generation with price determined by PETRONAS.
- Shockingly, PETRONAS would tell investors who wish to set up industries in Sarawak there would be no gas available for them! This is because PETRONAS have sold and exported 94% of Sarawakian gas, thus leaving very little behind for local industry to develop.
- Since 1974 with the enforcement of Petroleum Development Act, the cumulative value of petroleum produced and obtained in Sarawak by PETRONAS and the federal government as of 2014 stood at RM1 tril!
PETRONAS and the federal government have enjoyed immense benefit from Sarawak’s wealth for 50 years. Hence, it is inevitable that some questions are begging for answers from PETRONAS and the federal government.
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew
How has PETRONAS spent these money? How much of this has flown back to help develop Sarawak bearing in mind that one of the key promises and inducement for Sarawak to come on board to form Malaysia in 1963 was to have faster pace of development.
How could the federal government be owing Sarawak RM1.5 tril and counting today?
For too long, the federal government and PETRONAS has relied on Sarawak’s valuable petroleum and gas resources.
It is time for PETRONAS to come to term with reality and accept that Sarawak has the right over its gas resources and to comply with Sarawak law.
Morally too, the country owes it to Sarawak after having benefited RM1 tril. A thank you is due rather than casting negative aspersion on Sarawak. – Nov 22, 2024
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew is the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy treasurer-general and Bawang Assan SUPP chairman.
How has PETRONAS spent these money? How much of this has flown back to help develop Sarawak bearing in mind that one of the key promises and inducement for Sarawak to come on board to form Malaysia in 1963 was to have faster pace of development.
How could the federal government be owing Sarawak RM1.5 tril and counting today?
For too long, the federal government and PETRONAS has relied on Sarawak’s valuable petroleum and gas resources.
It is time for PETRONAS to come to term with reality and accept that Sarawak has the right over its gas resources and to comply with Sarawak law.
Morally too, the country owes it to Sarawak after having benefited RM1 tril. A thank you is due rather than casting negative aspersion on Sarawak. – Nov 22, 2024
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew is the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) deputy treasurer-general and Bawang Assan SUPP chairman.
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