Premier: Sarawak secures land rights on continental shelf

KUCHING (Aug 5): Sarawak has reached a settlement regarding rights and power in managing and using land on the continental shelf in line with the provisions of the Constitution, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He was cited in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit report as saying that this matter was discussed at the first meeting of the National Energy Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya recently.

Abang Johari said through the meeting, it was decided that land is a matter under the inviolable legislative and executive powers of the state.

“It is true that the continental shelf extends up to 200 nautical miles, but below that it cannot affect the jurisdiction of the state, its boundaries cannot be changed. It has to be respected.

“So, we discussed that last sentence, which states that rights within state borders cannot be touched. Alhamdulillah, we have solved that problem,” he said when speaking at the Sarawak Premier’s Department Hi-Tea ceremony, held in conjunction with his 74th birthday celebration at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

With the assurance of Sarawak’s bright future, Abang Johari hopes that young leaders can maintain the glory that has been achieved and continue the efforts to advance this country in a better direction.

Among those present at the event were Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki; Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi; Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai and Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.