Zaid urges Putrajaya to safeguard Petronas interests in Sarawak talks
PETALING JAYA, Sept 8 — Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri ...
Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has cautioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to safeguard the federal government and Petronas' interests during ongoing talks with Sarawak over the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). This comes ahead of Anwar's scheduled chairing of the MA63 meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Friday. In a post on X, Zaid expressed worries that political factors could sway the government's approach to Sarawak's demands, particularly regarding Petronas' role as the state's exclusive gas distributor.
He emphasized the importance of transparent decision-making concerning the nation's oil and gas assets, stating that political support should not be bartered for resource rights. Zaid questioned whether Petronas' exclusive gas distributor role would be further solidified following the meeting, estimating its potential annual worth at RM10 billion.
He further argued that such disputes should be resolved through the courts rather than political negotiations. The former minister also highlighted Sarawak's past success in imposing state sales tax on petroleum products, which reportedly generated billions of ringgit for the region. Zaid contended that all disagreements regarding Sarawak's and Petronas' legal rights should be subject to judicial review.
Discussions surrounding the MA63 are intended to balance Sarawak's constitutional entitlements with the federation's overall interests. Zaid urged opposition parties and Umno leaders to articulate their stances on the issue, suggesting that political parties might be hesitant to address the matter due to the significant influence wielded by East Malaysian parties in shaping parliamentary majorities.
The dispute between Sarawak and Petronas centers on the state's regulatory framework for oil and gas and Petronas' exclusive role in the gas sector. These negotiations have broader implications for the interplay between federal petroleum laws, Sarawak's state legislation, and the rights stemming from the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
