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Datuk Gerawat GalaAdvertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 24: The Sarawak government is confident that its move in filing a petition in the Federal Court to challenge the applicability of key federal laws on oil and gas (O&G) in the State will result in a favourable legal and political outcome, says Datuk Gerawat Gala.
In a statement, the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring) and Mulu assemblyman said the move demonstrates the Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) commitment to protecting and upholding Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution, as well as the State sovereignty.
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He said since the start, the Sarawak government has opted for good faith in MA63 negotiations with PETRONAS on O&G rights in the State, which was why it came as a surprise when PETRONAS filed a motion at the Federal Court seeking clarity on the applicable regulatory framework governing its operations in Sarawak.
Gerawat went on to say that previously, when the Sarawak government introduced the sales tax on the sales of petroleum products derived from Sarawak sold outside, PETRONAS initiated legal proceedings in court to challenge Sarawak’s legal right to impose sales tax, in which PETRONAS lost in the High Court and withdrew their appeal.
“Now, in the midst of negotiations between PETROS and PETRONAS for the gas aggregator role in Sarawak, PETRONAS filed a suit in the Federal Court against the Sarawak government, challenging the validity and applicability of our State laws relating to oil and gas in Sarawak.”
He further added that the stand taken by PETRONAS has prompted the filing of the recent court case by the Sarawak government challenging the applicability of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74), the Continental Shelf Act 1966 (CSA66), and the Petroleum Mining Act 1966 (PMA66) in Sarawak and the applicability of its State laws relating to oil and gas operations in Sarawak to all parties involved in oil and gas operations in Sarawak, including PETRONAS.
“This is the fundamental legal issue to be addressed by the court, and our GPS government is confident of a positive legal and even political outcome of the court case.
“Sarawakians will defend our laws and want parties conducting business operations in Sarawak, including PETRONAS, to respect and comply with our laws,” he said. — DayakDaily
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