(Kuching 26th) Two weeks have passed, where is the solution? Sarawak Democratic Action Party Chairman and State Assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen urges Sarawak Premier Abang Johari to openly disclose to all Sarawakians the solution reached between the Sarawak government and Malaysia's Petronas on the oil and gas rights dispute.
Chong Chieng Jen stated in a press release today that on the 10th of this month, Premier Abang Johari announced in a press conference that the Sarawak government and Petronas have reached a solution on the oil and gas (O&G) rights dispute and claimed that Prime Minister Anwar would soon announce the related solution. However, two weeks have passed, and yet there is no announcement as Abang Johari mentioned, with the Prime Minister still not revealing the so-called "settlement" plan.
"All Sarawakian people have the right to know what the solution actually is, especially since the settlement reached by the Sarawak Premier with Petronas will affect the future generations' rights to Sarawak's oil and gas; therefore, the people of Sarawak have the right to know the contents of these plans. Are the Sarawakian people to be kept in the dark once again?"
Chong Chieng Jen pointed out that the predecessor of GPS Sarawak, the Sarawak Barisan Nasional, has a poor record. Previously, a federal minister from Sarawak Barisan Nasional presented the 1974 Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974) in parliament, which was passed, and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional government agreed that Sarawak would only receive a meager 5% oil and gas extraction tax in the future. It was only many years after the Act was passed that it was realized that the 5% oil extraction tax was very unfair and unreasonable for Sarawak, a major oil-producing state, but it was too late then.
Chong Chieng Jen continued, saying that although the Sarawak state government has changed its name from the previous Sarawak Barisan Nasional to GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), in reality, the leaders of these two coalitions are still the same group of people, just with a new coalition name. As the saying goes, "the soup is changed but not the medicine," past experiences and based on their records, some of the decisions made by this GPS government led by the same group of people have been extremely unfair and improper.
In view of this, Chong Chieng Jen emphasized that the Sarawak government must be more transparent and open to clearly explain to all Sarawakian people the details and specific content of the oil and gas agreement reached with Petronas, allowing the people of Sarawak to scrutinize it.
"Most importantly, Sarawak's oil and gas resources belong to all the people of Sarawak. The Sarawak state government is merely the custodian of this valuable resource and has the responsibility to tell the people of Sarawak how they are managing these assets. As the beneficiaries of these natural resources, all people of Sarawak have the right to know every detail of how the government is managing these resources."
Therefore, Chong Chieng Jen urges Abang Johari to openly and transparently disclose the detailed content of the so-called solution to all Sarawakians, rather than allowing the people of Sarawak to continue being kept in the dark.
"All Sarawakian people have the right to know what the solution actually is, especially since the settlement reached by the Sarawak Premier with Petronas will affect the future generations' rights to Sarawak's oil and gas; therefore, the people of Sarawak have the right to know the contents of these plans. Are the Sarawakian people to be kept in the dark once again?"
Chong Chieng Jen pointed out that the predecessor of GPS Sarawak, the Sarawak Barisan Nasional, has a poor record. Previously, a federal minister from Sarawak Barisan Nasional presented the 1974 Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974) in parliament, which was passed, and the Sarawak Barisan Nasional government agreed that Sarawak would only receive a meager 5% oil and gas extraction tax in the future. It was only many years after the Act was passed that it was realized that the 5% oil extraction tax was very unfair and unreasonable for Sarawak, a major oil-producing state, but it was too late then.
Chong Chieng Jen continued, saying that although the Sarawak state government has changed its name from the previous Sarawak Barisan Nasional to GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), in reality, the leaders of these two coalitions are still the same group of people, just with a new coalition name. As the saying goes, "the soup is changed but not the medicine," past experiences and based on their records, some of the decisions made by this GPS government led by the same group of people have been extremely unfair and improper.
In view of this, Chong Chieng Jen emphasized that the Sarawak government must be more transparent and open to clearly explain to all Sarawakian people the details and specific content of the oil and gas agreement reached with Petronas, allowing the people of Sarawak to scrutinize it.
"Most importantly, Sarawak's oil and gas resources belong to all the people of Sarawak. The Sarawak state government is merely the custodian of this valuable resource and has the responsibility to tell the people of Sarawak how they are managing these assets. As the beneficiaries of these natural resources, all people of Sarawak have the right to know every detail of how the government is managing these resources."
Therefore, Chong Chieng Jen urges Abang Johari to openly and transparently disclose the detailed content of the so-called solution to all Sarawakians, rather than allowing the people of Sarawak to continue being kept in the dark.