Kuching: In response to the Sarawak Government’s move to challenge the constitutionality of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA1974) and related laws at the Federal Court, I welcomed the decision and emphasised that this has long been a cause consistently upheld and pursued by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in Sarawak.
DAP’s position has always been clear: within the framework of the Malaysian federation, any form of unfair exploitation based on race, religion, or region contradicts the spirit upon which Malaysia was founded and, therefore, must be firmly opposed.
This principle equally applies to the issue of oil and gas rights.
This is a long-standing stance of DAP since the days of Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, in which the DAP Members of Parliament, led by Lim Kit Siang, have repeatedly opposed any bills or motions in Parliament that undermine Sarawak’s rights.
This consistent position is evident in DAP’s opposition to the enactment of PDA1974, as well as its opposition to the 1976 constitutional amendment that downgraded Sarawak’s status to that of one of the thirteen state.
Beyond defending Sarawak’s rights in Parliament, DAP Sarawak has also played a pioneering role in advancing the discourse on Sarawak’s autonomy.
As early as 2014, DAP Sarawak announced the “Bintulu Declaration”, advocating federal decentralisation and administrative devolution.
This is one of the earliest modern articulations of Sarawak’s sovereignty discourse.
On the specific issue of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights, DAP Sarawak has consistently taken a clear and firm stand in defense of Sarawak’s interests.
In 2018, DAP Sarawak Chairman Chong Chieng Jen tabled a motion in Parliament to amend PDA1974, seeking to ensure that ownership of oil resources explored within Sarawak would belong to Sarawak.
However, Members of Parliament from the then Sarawak Barisan Nasional did not support the motion.
This laid the foundation for today’s consistent dispute.
In 2020, the Sarawak Government reached an agreement with Petronas, recognising the legality of PDA1974 and the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA2012).
In response, DAP Sarawak demanded in the State Legislative Assembly that the government clearly explain the basis and rationale for entering into such an agreement.
Last year, the Sarawak Government once again acknowledged the legal validity of PDA1974.
DAP Sarawak strongly criticised this move and labelled this as the second betrayal of Sarawak’s rights, to which the Sarawak GPS Government took offence of.
Looking back at the history of Sarawak’s oil and gas rights dispute, laws such as the Petroleum Development Act 1974 were passed with the support of the then Sarawak Barisan Nasional (predecessor of today’s Sarawak ruling coalition, GPS), and PDA1974 itself was tabled in Parliament by former Chief Minister Tun Taib.
This demonstrates that the roots of the present dispute are closely tied to past political decisions of the Sarawak GPS Government.
The Sarawak Government’s decision to seek clarification from the Federal Court on a dispute arising from its own past political decisions, though belated, is a step in the right direction.
DAP Sarawak reiterates its consistent position of firmly safeguarding Sarawak’s oil and gas rights and supports resolving the legal dispute through judicial means.
Only a clear legal determination can lay a solid foundation for securing Sarawak’s rightful interests and provide a clear and just delineation of powers and responsibilities between the Federation and Sarawak.
Chong Hong Hien
DAP Green Road Branch Deputy Secretary
24 February 2026
 at the Federal Court, seeking constitutional clarity on federal–state powers.){kind=link}