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Petronas suit: Stop finger-pointing, strive to protect Sarawak’s sovereignty, politicians urged

Soo, flanked by Buln (right) and Voon, shows the book on Federal Constitution to the camera.

KUCHING: All politicians in Sarawak need to stop ‘politicking’ and pointing fingers in relation to Petronas suit over rights of petroleum resources in the country, because Sarawak is in danger of losing claim to its territorial boundaries and petroleum resources.
In stating this, Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo viewed the court filing by Petronas as ‘the ultimate litmus test’ for the internal sovereignty of a partner within a federation, as Sarawak’s authority and powers within its own territory are being ‘severely put to the test’.
“Sarawak has internal sovereignty, namely legal ownership, economic rights and property rights of its oil, gas and minerals in its continental shelf – protected under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution.
   “It is unconstitutional for the federal government to take over ownership and economic rights of Sarawak’s resources by shifting its boundary and sea, in legislating the Territorial Sea Act (TSA) 2012,” she said in a press conference yesterday.
According to her, now is the most opportune time to restore Sarawak’s internal sovereignty to put right its political boundary, and as the exclusive owner with economic and property rights to its petroleum assets – onshore and offshore.
Soo also called upon the Sarawak government that in the next State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, it should reject the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) 1974, the TSA 2012 and Constitutional Amendment A354 Section 2, as these three Acts have never been moved for adoption in the House as required under Article 2(b) of the Federal Constitution.
She also expressed support to Sarawak government to respond valiantly to the Petronas suit with fervour and determination, resisting the corporation’s attempt to take over Sarawak’s petroleum resources.
“The Sarawak government should also engage a British QC (Queen’s Counsel) in constitutional and international law to assist, in the event that the court case proceeds,” she said.
STAR, Soo added, had also planned to set up an alternative team of lawyers to hold a watching brief over the case – as a way of it defending Sarawak’s territorial rights and sea under MA63.
“A Sarawak-born lawyer who is currently practising in Australia, Robert Pei shall assist the legal team on pro bono basis.
“So we will establish the Sarawak MA63 Fund to pay for legal opinions from an Australian expert on ‘Constitutional Law, International Law and Federalism’,” she said.
Soo said should the Petronas court case proceeds, the MA63 Fund would also be facilitated to proceed to the British Court if necessary, to raise the matter of MA63 to be determined by the British Court – seeing that both PDA and TSA are in breach of MA63.
“Should that materialise on a need basis, I hope Sarawakians would come forward to contribute to the cause for the future of Sarawak’s sovereignty.”
STAR chairman Buln Ribos and assistant treasurer Albert Voon were also present.