The smear that Sarawak’s leaders are pawns of “hidden hands” is not only false but dangerous, undermining unity and trust within Malaysia. This second segment of a commentary exposes the hollowness of such claims, highlighting how PETROS serves all Sarawakians, strengthens national cohesion, and reflects Sarawak’s long struggle for fairness in oil and gas.
When one looks at the history of Sarawak’s relationship with the oil and gas industry, one cannot escape the reality that for nearly five decades the state has been short-changed. Since 1974, Sarawak’s petroleum resources have enriched the federal coffers and fuelled the growth of PETRONAS into a corporate giant on the world stage.
Yet, for all that wealth, Sarawak itself received only a sliver of the returns. Is this fair? The five per cent royalty arrangement meant that between 1975 and 2024, Sarawak collected about RM49 billion, while the rest, conservatively estimated at over RM1 trillion, remained in PRTRONAS’ hands.
Defenders of the status quo argue that Sarawak also benefited through dividends from its stake in Malaysia LNG and through sales tax revenue. Indeed, those contributions amounted to about RM96 billion in total by 2024. But these figures, while sounding impressive, pale in comparison to the staggering value extracted. Figures don’t lie!
The fact is that Sarawak, which provided the resources, carried the environmental costs and social consequences of oil and gas extraction. Its people’s aspirations deferred for decades, were given back only a fraction of what was rightfully theirs.
This is the context that critics of Sarawak conveniently ignore when they deride the state government’s decision to appoint PETROS as the sole gas aggregator. They paint this as an act of selfishness, of narrow ambition, or worse still, of manipulation by “hidden hands”.
Such criticisms are not only malicious; they are historically blind. For too long, Sarawak has carried the weight of an unfair deal. What the state is doing now is not a grab for more, but simply a reclamation of what was always meant to be ours.
It is telling that when PETROS assumed its role, the first visible change was not the enrichment of elites, but the delivery of benefits directly to ordinary Sarawakians. For the first time, B40 households in Bintulu and Miri were supplied with free gas for daily use.
For the first time, the people who live next to the pipelines, who see gas flare in their skies and tankers sail out of their shores, felt the tangible advantage of their own resources.
This is no small achievement. It symbolises the beginning of a redistribution of wealth that had been denied to them for generations. Don’t we deserve what belongs to us? We don’t wish to see colonialism in whatever form reappearing itself.
And the plans go further. The state government has already committed revenues towards free education for Sarawak’s children. It has channelled oil and gas proceeds into building the Second Trunk Road, coastal highways, bridges, and international schools. These projects are not cosmetic showcases; they are arteries of development that will connect rural communities, improve mobility, and raise the quality of life across the state.
This is how Sarawak intends to use its gas wealth: not to enrich a few, but to lift all. Contrast this with the decades when PETRONAS controlled everything. Did households enjoy free gas then? Did Sarawak’s children receive free education financed by oil wealth?
Did rural villages see bridges rise and roads paved from petroleum revenues? The answer is obvious. Under the old arrangement, Sarawak was a resource base for the nation, but not a true beneficiary. Now, with PETROS empowered, Sarawak is finally correcting that imbalance.
Yet, instead of applauding these measures, some in the national media choose to slander Sarawak leaders. They reduce decades of struggle for fairness into baseless conspiracy theories about “Fuzhou domination”.
They seek to divide communities by invoking race, when the truth is that PETROS’ mission transcends ethnicity. Gas distribution under PETROS benefits all Sarawakians, whether they are Dayak, Malay, Melanau, Chinese, or others. It is a unifying agenda, not a divisive one.
The argument that invisible “hidden hands” are behind PETROS also betrays a fundamental disrespect for Sarawak leaders. It suggests that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, deputy premiers, the state legal counsel, and the entire Cabinet are too naive or too pliable to think for themselves.
Nothing could be further from the truth. These are leaders with years of service, armed with legal mandates, operating with the support of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, and backed by the people’s mandate. To imply that they are manipulated is not only insulting, it is a form of political gaslighting aimed at undermining Sarawak’s sovereignty over its own resources.
The legal foundation for PETROS’ role has already been established beyond doubt. The Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016, amended in 2023, vests in the state government the authority to appoint a sole gas aggregator. PETROS was duly appointed, and its functions are laid out clearly, including to procure, allocate, distribute, and expand gas supply in Sarawak.
Moreover, the joint declaration signed between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Premier in May 2025 explicitly recognises that state and federal laws on gas distribution coexist and must be respected.
There is no ambiguity here. Any attempt to deny PETROS authority is in fact an attempt to deny the validity of Sarawak’s legislative rights within the Federation of Malaysia.
Critics often argue that Sarawak’s stronger stance on oil and gas will weaken PETRONAS and fragment national energy policy. The opposite is true. What Sarawak demands is not dismantlement, but partnership. PETRONAS remains the national oil company, with responsibility for LNG exports and international ventures.
Sarawak does not dispute this. What Sarawak insists on is the right to manage gas distribution within its own territory, a right guaranteed under law. If anything, a respectful partnership between PETRONAS and PETROS strengthens Malaysia as a whole. A prosperous Sarawak, empowered and content within the federation, contributes stability to the unity government and to national harmony.
There are also economic reasons why the old model must change. Sarawak’s Gas Roadmap envisions leveraging gas resources to power industries, attract investors, and drive GDP growth. Estimates suggest that if implemented successfully, Sarawak could contribute over RM130 billion annually to the national economy.
This is not money siphoned away from Malaysia; it is growth generated within Malaysia, benefiting the federation at large. But it requires that Sarawak be given the space and respect to execute its roadmap without being undermined by false accusations or bureaucratic resistance.
Those who perpetuate negative narratives must also be reminded of the risks. Sarawak’s goodwill towards PETRONAS is not endless. For decades, Sarawakians tolerated inequity in the name of national unity.
They believed in the promise of Malaysia. But patience has limits. If slanders continue, if respect is denied, if Sarawak’s legitimate rights are constantly questioned, then resentment will fester. That is not in the interest of anyone; not Sarawak, not PETRONAS, not Malaysia.
A more constructive path would be to acknowledge Sarawak’s contributions and support its efforts to bring direct benefits to its people. Instead of spreading conspiracies about ethnic entrepreneurs, commentators should recognise how far Sarawak has come in balancing state rights with national responsibilities. Instead of fearing PETROS, they should see it as a partner that can expand Malaysia’s energy security while empowering Sarawakians.
At its core, this issue is about dignity. Sarawak does not ask for charity. It asks for fairness. It does not seek to divide the federation. It seeks respect within it.
The people of Sarawak are proud Malaysians. They have never wavered in their loyalty to the nation. But loyalty must be reciprocal. Respect for Sarawak’s rights is respect for Malaysia’s founding agreement. Honour Sarawak, and you honour the federation. Disrespect Sarawak, and you weaken the very fabric of unity.
The smear campaign by Politikonomi and others is therefore more than an attack on Sarawak’s leaders. It is an attack on the principle of partnership that underpins Malaysia. By peddling falsehoods about “hidden hands”, they not only insult Sarawak but risk corroding national cohesion.
Responsible authorities should not allow such divisive narratives to spread unchecked. Those who fabricate stories that threaten stability and harmony should be held accountable.
Sarawak’s message is clear. We want to live up to our motto “Sarawak Maju Makmur”. We want to prosper and in doing so contribute to Malaysia’s prosperity. We want to see our resources uplift our people, from the longhouses in the interior to the cities along the coast.
We want our children to study in schools funded by our wealth, our families to cook with gas provided by our land, our industries to thrive on energy drawn from our own soil. And we want to do all this as proud Malaysians, shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens across the South China Sea.
It is time, therefore, to cast aside the distractions of slander and conspiracy. It is time to recognise that Sarawak’s reclamation of its oil and gas rights is not a threat, but a promise; a promise of shared prosperity, mutual respect, and a stronger federation.
The critics will continue to shout, but the facts will stand. Sarawak’s leaders are not guided by “hidden hands”. They are guided by history, by law, and by the duty to their people. That duty is sacred. That mission is just. And that path is irreversible. — UKASnews
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This commentary was first published by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) on September 5, 2025.)
