BY NURA V LORNA & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: Sarawak’s control over gas distribution has allowed the state government to channel direct benefits to the rakyat, beginning with free gas supplies for B40 households in Bintulu and Miri.
The state’s legal counsel Datuk Seri JC Fong said the initiative, carried out through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) as the sole gas aggregator, demonstrated how Sarawak’s executive authority over gas ensures resources are used for the people’s welfare regardless of race or background.
“PETROS has been able to supply free gas for domestic use to B40 groups in Sungai Plan, Bintulu and Taman Ceria, Permyjaya, Miri.
“This is only the beginning of plans to extend the benefit to other areas,” he said in response to an article entitled ‘The Chinese Fuzhou hidden hands behind Sarawak’s gas aggregator ambition EXPOSED’.
Fong observed that during Petronas’ decades of operations in Sarawak, such benefits had not previously reached the people.
Instead, 94 per cent of Sarawak’s gas has been exported to Japan and Korea as LNG, bringing returns largely to foreign industries and people.
He added that Sarawak’s control enabled the state to address shortages in gas allocation for power generation, industries and investors.
Revenues from oil and gas have also been channelled into infrastructure projects such as the Second Trunk Road (STR) project, Sarawak Coastal Road, bridges, and the setting up of international secondary schools.
“By next year, free education will also be implemented in Sarawak.
“These initiatives benefit all communities in the state, not only a single ethnic group or political elite,” Fong stressed.
He said Petronas had grown to its present size because of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources, and more importantly, the goodwill of Sarawakians.
He added that all Sarawakians wanted was due respect from Petronas for its losses, sustainable use of the state’s gas resources, and adequate allocation to support the Sarawak Gas Roadmap.
He noted that the successful implementation of these measures could contribute more than RM100 billion annually to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Sarawak wants to live up to its motto ‘Sarawak Maju Makmur’ while contributing to the prosperity and harmony of the federation,” he added.
