MIRI (Aug 16): Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii has reaffirmed that Sarawak’s control over its oil and gas resources is rooted in historical fact, legal rights and state dignity, stressing that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) cannot override Sarawak’s own oil laws.

In a statement, Yii has expressed firm support for Senator Ahmad Ibrahim’s assertion that the PDA does not supersede the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO), which remains valid and enforceable in Sarawak.

According to the Miri Mayor, Sarawak’s rights in this sector are not federal concessions, but legacy entitlements grounded in the state’s legal and historical foundations.

“Sarawak began oil extractions in Miri in 1910, decades before Malaysia was formed in 1963.

“The OMO, enacted by the British colonial administration, remains in force and is protected under Section 73 of the Malaysia Act 1963.”

Yii added that any attempt to disregard or downplay these rights would constitute a serious affront to Sarawak’s sovereignty.

Yii described as ‘highly misleading’ a recent statement in Parliament by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform, who claimed that Petronas’ powers under the PDA extended to Sarawak

“Such statements risk creating public misunderstanding and falsely suggest that Sarawak has compromised its longstanding position,” he said.

Yii highlighted Sarawak’s significant progress in asserting its rights through legislative and legal means.

In 2016, the Sarawak government passed the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO), officially recognising Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) as the sole gas aggregator in the state.

In 2020, the High Court ruled in favour of Sarawak’s right to impose a sales tax on petroleum products, forcing Petronas to pay outstanding dues to the state.

“These were not acts of generosity from the federal government. They were rights that Sarawak fought for and won through the courts and legislative reforms,” stressed Yii.

He also called upon all political parties and leaders in Sarawak to adopt a united stance in defending the state’s rights, and to reject any attempts to undermine it.

“This matter is not merely economic, but one of dignity, legal autonomy, and the spirit enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which forms the basis of Sarawak’s participation in the Malaysian federation.

“SUPP will never yield. We will continue to defend Sarawak’s rights at the negotiating table, in Parliament, and in the court of public opinion.

“Sarawak’s oil and gas resources belong to Sarawakians. That is an indisputable historical fact and a right protected by law.”