KUCHING: The Youth Wing of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) has called on the State Legislative Assembly to debate the Petroleum Development Act 1974 to clarify regulatory authority over Sarawak’s oil and gas sector.
PRS Youth Chief, Christopher Gira Sambang, said the proposal seeks to clearly delineate the respective authority of the State and Federal governments, noting that Sarawak already oversees upstream petroleum activities under the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO 1958), while the PDA 1974 operates at the federal level.
“This initiative is not intended to create regulatory conflict, but to ensure certainty and transparency for oil and gas operators, particularly international investors on which lawful authority they should engage with when operating in Sarawak,” he said in a statement.
He emphasised that regulatory certainty is vital to maintaining investor confidence, ensuring project bankability and supporting long-term operational stability, especially for capital-intensive upstream and midstream developments.
According to PRS Youth, a structured debate in the State Assembly would help minimise jurisdictional overlap, regulatory ambiguity and administrative delays, thereby creating a more predictable investment environment for both national and international energy players.
The statement further highlighted that the discussion aligns with Sarawak’s long-standing position on state rights over natural resources originating from its land and territorial waters, consistent with Malaysia’s federal structure and the principles of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“For Sarawak, clarity in governance is essential to ensure that the economic value derived from oil and gas resources is translated into sustainable development, local workforce participation, technology transfer and long-term value creation,” Gira added.
As a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), PRS Youth reiterated its support for a stable, rules-based energy governance framework that positions Sarawak as a reliable and competitive destination for energy investment within Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.
Gira concluded that the proposed debate on the PDA 1974 represents a prudent and forward-looking measure to reinforce legal certainty and safeguard the long-term interests of all stakeholders in Sarawak’s energy sector.
