The RM2.9 billion payment of Sales Tax seems to be a trade-off for the rights of Sarawak over its oil and gas, ie. the State Government accepts the Sales Tax but surrenders its oil and gas rights to the Federal Government.
This is a second time that the current GPS or the previous BN reaffirms the validity of Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974) which took away Sarawak’s oil and gas rights in return for a fraction of its value and worth.
The first time Sarawak Government surrendered Sarawak’s oil and gas rights to the Federal Government happened in 1974 when the PDA 1974 was tabled and passed in Parliament.
About 40 years later, the late Adenan Satem openly questioned the invalidity and unconstitutionality of the law and wanted to regain Sarawak’s rights over its oil and gas.
With the agreement of the current Sarawak Government now accepting the payment of Sales Tax in settlement of the dispute over Sarawak’s oil and gas rights, the Sarawak Government has for the second time affirmed the validity of the PDA 1974.
It thus spells the end of whatever legal argument that the late Adenan Satem had earlier put forth in the Sarawak DUN in claiming our oil and gas rights. It also puts to a stop the demand for increasing the oil and gas royalty.
More importantly, it will prevent our future generations from claiming our oil and gas rights.
The GPS Government wants to portray that the collection of the RM2.9 billion Sales Tax is a victory, but it seems that Sarawak has lost more than the RM2.9 billion collected. It could be a second time Sarawak Government being penny wise pound foolish.
It is similar to the situation back in 1974 when the PDA 1974 was passed with Sarawak given the 5% royalty in compensation of its rights over the oil and gas. It was then thought that the 5% royalty was a good bargain for Sarawak, but only later found to be grossly inadequate.
Furthermore, what the Federal Government gives through Petronas in terms of Sales Tax, it can always balance off by reducing the annual budgetary allocations for Sarawak. It is just from the left pocket to the right pocket. Meanwhile, we lost our claim over our oil and gas forever.
The State Government must be forthcoming to the people of Sarawak in disclosing the full extent of the bargain and not merely giving a rosy picture but hiding the unfavourable truth behind the settlement.
18-9-2020
Chong Chieng Jen
DAP Sarawak Chairman
