Media Statement By Irene Chang:
The recent affirmation by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to
acknowledge the validity of PDA 1974 and that it is business as usual for Petronas has
most likely dealt a fatal blow to Sarawak’s effort to reclaim control over our own oil and
gas resources. The negotiation for the reclaiming of our oil and gas resources began
with great promise, only to end up this day with an acknowledgement that the PDA 1974
still holds the overriding authority over our petroleum resources. If an average
Sarawakian could claim ignorance in 1974 to the passing of PDA in Parliament, we
certainly cannot do so today, when the issue is foremost in every Sarawakian’s mind.
The Premier, in his agreement with the Prime Minister on 7 January 2025 to affirm
Petronas’ authority, had sought to assure Sarawakians that such power-sharing
arrangement would benefit Sarawak. However, this power-sharing arrangement
between Petros and Petronas remains ambiguous, which may lead to conflicts of
interest with Petronas being continued to be given the authority to call the shots in all
the resources mined by them. While this arrangement claims to balance national
interests and state aspirations, history has shown that Sarawak’s resources were often
exploited for Putrajaya’s benefit. And even if both the Premier and the PM agree to
uphold the power-sharing arrangement between them, this seems to be just a
gentlemen’s agreement and would not compel future leaders and successors to follow
through with the same commitment.
Furthermore, the Premier’s statement about requesting offshore areas from the federal
government to meet Sarawak’s gas supply targets showcases the imbalance of power
as Sarawak should not be made to ask for permission to explore and develop its own
natural resources. This confirms that Petronas had been given the ownership of our oil
and gas resources through PDA 1974 and this latest agreement between the Premier
and the PM is an expressed acknowledgement that the ownership will continue to stay
with Petronas.
While it is acknowledged that the issue of making right the wrong done and committed
on the people of Sarawak through the passing of PDA 1974 and the Territorial Seas Act
2012 is complicated and cannot be resolved in a day or two, the Premier’s affirmation of
the validity of PDA in today’s political climate has undermined Sarawakians’ hopes and
confidence, leaving us with a weakened legal standing to reclaim or to at least,
negotiate for better terms with Petronas and Putrajaya. While the Sarawak
government’s affirmation of Petros’ role as the gas aggregator is a positive step, the
persistence of Petronas’ influence, the lack of direct control over our offshore resources,
and the continued federal oversight clearly negate all previous claims by Sarawak on
the legality of PDA.
Sarawak should never have agreed to endorse the validity of PDA which gives Petronas
the ownership right over our oil and gas resources indefinitely. Even if the current
scenario favours a continued cooperation between Petronas and Petros for the time
being, Sarawak should renegotiate the terms to put Sarawak in a stronger and not a
weaker legal position to reclaim the ownership from Petronas in the long run.
As it is, with this present arrangement, Sarawak remains in a compromised position,
where its oil and gas wealth will continue to be dictated by federal authorities for an
indefinite time. In this respect, the GPS government, as the government of Sarawak for
the day, has failed her people again.
