The Federal Court hearing over ownership right to Sarawak’s oil and gas is now postponed from June 12 to June 21, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said yesterday.

“The Federal Court has acceded to the request by the Federal Attorney-General (FAG) for a postponement of the hearing to enable him to consider whether the federal government ought to intervene in this case.

“It is surprising that Petronas, who made the application and sought an urgent hearing thereof, has no objection to the postponement of hearing of the case,” the CMO said late yesterday.

The postponement was granted without hearing the Sarawak government’s objection, according to the SAG legal team, who were already in the federal capital.

Besides, all affidavits and submissions for the hearing had been delivered to the Court in readiness for the hearing on June 12, said the legal team.

The Sarawak government will now have to consider all other options to protect and enforce the state’s constitutional rights in this matter and would not allow Petronas to disrespect and disregard the state’s rights to regulate the upstream activities under the state’s laws such as the Oil Mining Ordinance and the Land Code, the statement added.