Adam Yii Says Sarawak Firm in Defending Oil and Gas Rights
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Central Publicity Secretary, Adam Yii reaffirmed Sarawak’s determination to defend its inherent rights over oil and gas resources. He expressed full support for Senator Ahmad Ibrahim’s view that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) cannot override Sarawak’s own oil laws, in particular the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO).
Yii said Sarawak’s oil and gas resources are assets safeguarded by history, law and the rights of the people. They cannot be treated as allocations to be decided by the federal government.
He pointed out that Sarawak started oil production in Miri in 1910, more than five decades before Malaysia was formed. The OMO, enacted in 1958 during the colonial administration, is still in force today and protected under Article 73 of the Malaysia Act 1963, which affirms Sarawak’s authority over petroleum resources.
“These historical and legal facts are the foundation of Sarawak’s rights. To dismiss or deny them is a sign of disrespect towards the state,” he said.
Yii also criticised the recent statement in Parliament by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) that Petronas’s authority under the PDA continues to apply in Sarawak. He described the statement as misleading and one that could give the impression that Sarawak has compromised with the federal government, which he said is contrary to the state’s consistent position.
He highlighted that under the Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016, Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) has been recognised as the sole aggregator of natural gas in the state. In addition, the 2020 High Court ruling confirmed Sarawak’s right to impose sales tax on petroleum products and compelled Petronas to pay its arrears. Yu stressed these were rights Sarawak fought for and secured on its own.
He expressed disappointment with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak, saying the party had remained silent on the matter. “While the state government has been negotiating with the federal authorities and pursuing legal means to protect OMO and gas distribution rights, DAP Sarawak has stayed quiet and at times leaned towards federal positions. Even now, when Sarawak’s rights are again being questioned, its leaders have chosen to remain silent,” he said.
Yii called on all political parties and leaders in Sarawak to stand together in defending the state’s oil and gas rights and to avoid confusion or division on the issue.
“This is about the legal guarantees in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which formed the basis of Sarawak’s entry into Malaysia. It is about Sarawak’s dignity and autonomy,” he said.
He assured that SUPP will continue to safeguard Sarawak’s legal rights in every arena, through negotiations, in Parliament, and in public debate.
“Sarawak’s oil belongs to the people of Sarawak. This is a fact established by history and protected by law,” he said.
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