Petronas-Sarawak oil and gas dispute heads to Federal Court for five-day hearing from Jan 25

The Federal Court has scheduled a five-day hearing, commencing on January 25, for petitions filed by Petronas and the Sarawak Government. The cases challenge laws governing oil and gas matters. Justice Rhodzariah Bujang will hear the petitions in the order they were filed, but it is up to the panel to decide the order of issues.

The Sarawak Government's preliminary issue concerns the validity of the 1954 Sarawak (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council, which pertains to territorial waters. The two petitions are not consolidated, allowing the panel to decide if the preliminary issue should be heard first. Both parties have until January 11 to file their submissions and January 18 for reply submissions.

The hearing is set for January 25-29. Petronas and the Sarawak Government request an enlarged panel of either nine or eleven members to hear the cases. Petronas wants its petition heard first, followed by the sequence of filing, while the Sarawak Government argues for the opposite. Petronas' lawyer contends the OIC issue can be addressed during the petition hearing, while the Federal Government supports Petronas, stating it is not necessary to hear the OIC as a preliminary issue.

The Federal Court previously granted leave for Petronas to challenge the legislative competency of the Sarawak State Legislature and declare several laws made by it invalid.