Borneo Herald
8.00AM MYT, 6-12-2025
KUCHING: The Sarawak government insists in the strongest possible terms that every inch of the seabed, subsoil and continental shelf within the state's borders is Sarawak's legitimate right. This right is not the result of current political demands, but a sovereign right guaranteed by law, enshrined in Malaysia's own formation documents.
Sarawak Premier, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, reminded the Federation that there is no single clause in MA63 or the Malaysia Act 1963 that grants ownership of Sarawak's continental shelf to the Federal Government.
He stated firmly that any interpretation that attempts to deny Sarawak's rights is against the law, historically wrong, and constitutionally invalid.
"Sarawak's Rights Cannot Be Infringed. Period." Premier
“I repeat: Sarawak’s rights to the continental shelf are absolute, inalienable, and non-negotiable. The seabed and subsoil of this state have been Sarawak’s rights through the Land Code 1958 since Malaysia Day 1963. This is a legal fact, not an opinion,” the Premier stressed.
In his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday, he stressed that:
• Article 2 of the Federal Constitution protects Sarawak’s borders.
• The Federation cannot change the state’s borders without the consent of the State Legislative Assembly.
• Any attempt is considered a serious violation of the constitution.
Continental Shelf Act 2009: Black and White Evidence of Sarawak’s Rights
The amendment to the Continental Shelf Act 2009 confirms that the state has substantive rights to the seabed and subsoil within its borders. This law is aligned with MA63 and the Sarawak State Constitution, thus strengthening the legal position of Sarawak.
“Sarawak has been managing its oil and gas since the British era. This right existed long before the Federation took any role. No one has the right to challenge it in terms of law, they have no locus standi to do so,” explained the Premier.
Article 47(2) of the Sarawak State Constitution which is a legal annex to MA63 details the limits of state power, including the continental shelf.
Challenging Sarawak’s Rights = Violating MA63 + State Constitution + Federal Constitution
The Premier warned that anyone who tries to dispute Sarawak’s rights is directly violating:
1. MA63, the foundation of the formation of Malaysia,
2. Sarawak State Constitution, and
3. Federal Constitution.
He stressed that Sarawak has its own legal authority through:
• Petroleum Mining Ordinance 1958,
• Gas Distribution Ordinance 2016,
which gives Sarawak absolute power to control the exploration and extraction of natural resources within its territory.
“Therefore, every entity, whether GLC company, Federal agency or foreign company, must submit to Sarawak’s laws. State laws cannot be set aside, cannot be trampled upon.”
Sarawak Will Not Give Up – Laws in Side with the State
“Sarawak will not back down even an inch. The rights of this state are not just political demands; these rights are protected by the highest law of the land,” the Premier stressed.
The Premier closed with a stronger statement:
“The sovereignty of Sarawak’s land, resources and continental shelf is a historical right, a legal right and a constitutional right. These rights are not for negotiation, not for questioning, and not for grabs. Sarawak will defend them fully,” he said.
*Additional* commentary by Dr Kanul Gindol, a veteran observer of State~Federal politics:
Sarawak presented the 2026 Budget of RM12.9 billion, the largest in its history, compared to a revenue of RM13.1 billion.
As a current comparison, the Sarawak Budget is twice as large as the Sabah Budget, and far behind the budgets of the Malayan states which are only around RM600 million (such as Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis) to RM3 billion (Penang RM1 billion, Johor RM2 billion and Selangor RM3 billion).
This means that the 11 state governments in the Peninsula have been too dependent on the Federal Budget for their development. They are the ones who have always taken the rights of Sabah and Sarawak for over 60 years.
Dr Kanul Gindol
This has also resulted in Sabah and Sarawak continuing to lag behind in terms of development. However, Sarawak has managed to take initial steps to close this gap by increasing its revenue through several tax initiatives.
Sarawak is also expected to implement new tax initiatives regarding carbon emissions and pollution. They have enacted legislation on it following the efforts of the Federal Government in this regard.
Sarawak is expected to start collecting revenue from this initiative starting next year 2026.
Sabah has not yet enacted the same law, which means it will lag behind again. That is why Sabah needs a wise leader who is quick to enlist the help of intelligent officials, including the State Attorney.
*砂拉越的权利不可被夺取、不可谈判* —— *总理警告联邦政府*
《婆罗洲先驱报》（Borneo Herald）
2025年12月6日 上午8时（马来西亚时间）
古晋讯：
砂拉越政府以最强烈措辞重申，凡位于砂拉越州界内的海床、底土及大陆架的每一寸土地，皆是砂拉越合法、正当的权利。这些权利并非源于当前的政治诉求，而是受法律保障、并明确写入马来西亚建国文件中的主权权利。
砂拉越总理丹斯里阿邦佐哈里·敦奥本提醒联邦政府，《1963年马来西亚协议》（MA63）及《1963年马来西亚法令》中，没有任何一项条文将砂拉越大陆架的所有权赋予联邦政府。
他严正指出，任何试图否认砂拉越权利的诠释，既违法、又违背历史事实，同时在宪法上也是无效的。
> “砂拉越的权利不可侵犯。没有讨论余地。”——总理
他强调：
> “我再次重申：砂拉越对大陆架的权利是绝对的、不可剥夺的、不可谈判的。自1963年马来西亚成立以来，砂拉越州内的海床与底土，已根据《1958年土地法典》确立为砂拉越的权利。这是法律事实，而不是个人意见。”
在昨日州议会总结发言中，总理进一步强调：
联邦宪法第2条保障砂拉越的州界；
未经州议会同意，联邦政府无权更改州界；
任何试图更改的行为，皆构成对宪法的严重侵犯。
《2009年大陆架法令》：砂拉越权利的白纸黑字证据
《2009年大陆架法令》的修订，确认砂拉越对州界内海床与底土拥有实质性权利。该法令与MA63及《砂拉越州宪法》相一致，进一步巩固了砂拉越的法律地位。
总理指出：
> “砂拉越自英殖民时期起，便已管理本州的石油与天然气资源。这项权利早于联邦政府的任何角色之前便已存在。任何人都无权在法律上挑战这一点，他们在法律上没有诉讼地位（locus standi）。”
作为MA63法律附件之一的《砂拉越州宪法》第47(2)条，明确列出州权力范围，包括大陆架。
挑战砂拉越权利 = 违反 MA63 + 州宪法 + 联邦宪法
总理警告，任何试图质疑砂拉越权利者，等同直接违反：
1. 《1963年马来西亚协议》（MA63），即马来西亚建国基础；
2. 《砂拉越州宪法》；
3. 《联邦宪法》。
他强调，砂拉越依法拥有自身的法律权力，包括：
《1958年石油采矿条例》；
《2016年天然气分配条例》。
上述法律赋予砂拉越对州内天然资源勘探与开采的完全控制权。
> “因此，任何实体——无论是官联公司、联邦机构或外国公司——都必须遵守砂拉越法律。州法律不能被搁置、不能被践踏。”
砂拉越绝不退让——法律站在砂拉越一方
*总理重申：*
> “砂拉越不会退让哪怕一寸。这些权利不仅是政治诉求，而是受到国家最高法律保障的权利。”
他以更强硬的声明作结：
> “砂拉越土地、资源与大陆架的主权，是历史权利、法律权利与宪法权利。这些权利不可谈判、不可质疑、不可被掠夺。砂拉越将全力捍卫。”
*追加评论*
资深州—联邦政治观察员 卡努尔·金多博士（Dr Kanul Gindol）
砂拉越于2026年提呈高达129亿令吉的财政预算案，为历来最高，对比州政府收入约131亿令吉。
作为对比，砂拉越的预算规模是沙巴的两倍，也远高于多个半岛州属，其州预算仅约：
6亿令吉左右（如马六甲、森美兰、玻璃市），
至30亿令吉（槟城约10亿、柔佛约20亿、雪兰莪约30亿）。
这显示半岛的11个州政府，长期高度依赖联邦拨款进行发展；过去60多年，正是这些州持续攫取了沙巴与砂拉越的权利。
卡努尔博士指出，这种结构性失衡，导致沙巴与砂拉越在发展上长期落后。不过，砂拉越已透过多项税务改革，开始缩小这一差距。
砂拉越也预计将就碳排放与污染推行新的税务措施，并已立法配合联邦在相关领域的努力，预计将于2026年起开始征税。
相较之下，沙巴尚未通过类似法案，意味着将再次落后。因此，沙巴迫切需要一位具远见的领导人，迅速集结包括州检察长在内的专业官员团队，以应对挑战。
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