‘Upcoming meeting not to discuss apex court petition’

KUCHING (Feb 24): The upcoming Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting on March 2 will not discuss Sarawak’s Federal Court petition on the applicability of several federal petroleum laws, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister said the legal move is a separate matter and should not be conflated with ongoing Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) negotiations.

“The matter has been filed in the Federal Court, and we leave it to the court to decide.

“The purpose of the petition is to seek clarity on the status of three federal laws—the Petroleum Development Act 1974, the Continental Shelf Act 1966 and the Petroleum Mining Act 1966,” he told reporters after launching the Jerayawara Bubur Lambuk Saberkas 2026 at i-CATS University College here.

Abdul Karim added that as the case is before the court, it would be improper to comment further.

The Sarawak government filed the petition on Monday following a move by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to question the validity of Sarawak’s petroleum-related laws.

Abdul Karim said the March 2 MTPMA63 meeting will instead focus on unresolved MA63 matters being addressed through negotiations with the federal government, including issues under his ministry’s portfolio such as the devolution of powers in tourism and the return of federal land in Sarawak that has remained undeveloped for over five years.

“We are requesting that land handed over to the federal government but left undeveloped be returned to the state. Some have been successfully reclaimed, while other matters are still being refined,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, who was also present at the function, said discussions will cover a broad range of outstanding priorities, including health, education, the special grant under Article 112D and its proposed formula, as well as Sarawak’s representation in Parliament.

Also present were Telang Usan assemblyman and Sarbekas vice-president Datuk Dennis Ngau, Daro assemblyman and Sarbekas secretary-general Shafiee Ahmad, and i-CATS University College vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi.