KUCHING: The Federation of Chinese Associations of Sarawak has thrown its full support behind the state government’s landmark legal challenge against federal petroleum laws, calling on all Sarawakians to unite in defending the state’s constitutional rights over its natural resources.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (Feb 24), the federation endorsed the Sarawak government’s petition to the Federal Court filed on Monday (Feb 23); which seeks to clarify the constitutional validity of three key federal statutes: the Petroleum Development Act 1974, the Continental Shelf Act 1966, and the Petroleum Mining Act 1966.
The federation maintained that Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) constitute “historic constitutional rights solemnly enshrined in the founding agreement of the nation” that must not be “disregarded, diminished, or arbitrarily interpreted.”
“The Sarawak government’s decision to seek a ruling from the Federal Court through judicial channels is a legitimate exercise of our rights within the constitutional framework.
“This is not merely a legal issue, but one that concerns Sarawak’s future development prospects and the well-being of future generations.”
The federation specifically highlighted Sarawak’s “sovereign rights over the natural resources within its boundaries, including offshore oil and gas resources and the Territorial Sea Ordinance” as having “clear historical foundations and legal basis.”
It issued an impassioned appeal for solidarity across racial and religious lines, urging “all Sarawakians, regardless of race or creed, to render our strong support and firmly stand with the Sarawak government.”
It further called upon political parties and the general public to “set aside internal differences” and “collectively defend our fundamental rights of Sarawak within the framework of law and the Constitution.”
In a direct message to national authorities, the federation “solemnly reminded” Petronas and the federal government that they “must respect the historical facts and constitutional spirit established under the Malaysia Agreement.”
“These rights of Sarawak are not a matter of charity.
“They are the fundamental rights expressly stipulated in black and white in the Agreement. They are not emotional demands, but legitimate claims grounded in constitutional principles.”
The federation concluded by expressing confidence that mutual respect and adherence to constitutional principles would strengthen federal-state relations and “foster national unity with fairness and justice for all.”
