MIRI: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Central Publicity and Information Secretary, Adam Yii Siew Sang, has accused federal leaders of making “misleading” statements that risk undermining the state’s legal authority over its oil and gas (O&G) resources.
In a strongly worded statement, Yii backed Senator Ahmad Ibrahim’s view that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) cannot override Sarawak’s own legislation, particularly the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO).
“Sarawak’s oil and gas resources are not gifts from the federal government, nor assets to be decided unilaterally in Putrajaya. They are inherent rights grounded in our history, our laws and the will of our people,” Yii said.
Citing history, Yii pointed out that Miri’s first oil well was drilled in 1910, more than half a century before Malaysia was formed.
The OMO, introduced under British colonial rule in 1958, remains in force and is protected under Section 73 of the Malaysia Act 1963 – the legal framework for Sarawak’s agreement to jointly form Malaysia.
“These are not obscure footnotes. They are the foundation of Sarawak’s sovereignty in managing its own O&G resources. To downplay or deny them is to disrespect Sarawak,” he stressed.
His comments follow a remark in Parliament by the federal minister for law and institutional reform, who maintained that PETRONAS’ powers under the PDA still apply in Sarawak.
Yii said the statement could mislead the public into thinking Sarawak had compromised with the federal government – something he insisted had never happened.
He pointed to recent legal and policy wins for Sarawak, including the 2016 Distribution of Gas Ordinance which established state-owned Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS) as the sole gas aggregator, and a 2020 High Court ruling upholding Sarawak’s right to impose sales tax on petroleum products, obliging PETRONAS to pay overdue taxes.
“These were hard-fought victories, achieved by Sarawak, not handed down as favours,” he said.
Yii also criticised Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) for being “silent” on the matter, accusing the opposition party of leaning towards federal positions and failing to back the state’s fight to protect the OMO and gas distribution rights.
“When Sarawak’s rights are challenged, every political leader here should speak with one voice,” he said.
“This is about the legal guarantees enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 – the very terms on which Sarawak joined Malaysia. It is about dignity as much as economics,” Yii pointed out.
He vowed that SUPP would defend Sarawak’s position “at the negotiating table, in Parliament, and in the court of public opinion”.
“Sarawak’s oil and gas belong to Sarawakians. That is a fact of history, and it is protected by law,” he stressed.
