Sarawak should set royalty rates as 'oil is ours', says Nancy Shukri
Advertisement
SARAWAKIANS have every right to demand petrol rights as the majority of the fossil fuel is produced in East Malaysia, said Nancy Shukri today.
The former minister in the prime minister’s department said Sarawakians wanted the Pakatan Harapan government to honour the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), as they felt they had been short-changed.
“We have been enriching the West Malaysians. When we see Petronas Twin Towers, we wonder what happened to us.
“This is the reason why Sarawak is being aggressive and being protective of themselves.
“We should not be as backward as we are today. We should be getting a lot more,” Nancy told a forum titled A New Malaysia: The Way Ahead.
The PH government has already agreed to a 20% oil royalty for Sarawak, which local leaders dispute is not enough.
“It is in our soil, we should be determining how much we give to the federal government. Not the other way around,” she said.
The Batang Sadong Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) MP added the state government was already in negotiations with Petronas to determine the oil royalty.
Separately, Nancy said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was formed to ensure the rights of Sarawakians were spoken for, while being friendly with their allies Barisan Nasional.
“When we were in BN, the boss was here, but now we are in GPS, and the boss is there (Sarawak). We are friendly but firm,” she said.
PKR lawmaker Fahmi Fadzil said he would make sure PH ratified the MA63 as he did not want the government to be seen as going back on another election promise.
“It is a matter of principle for me that if something is signed, we have to honour it.
“I would like to see the agreement fulfilled. If not, what good is our word?” the Lembah Pantai MP asked.
The original PH offer was for 20% oil royalty, 50% of all federal taxes collected in the state, and autonomy in education and healthcare.
However, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office Abdullah Saidol said this offer was not discussed with the local leaders. – August 29, 2018.