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Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Soon Koh urges CM to clear ambiguity over Sarawak’s agreement with Petronas
theborneopost.com
KUCHING: Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh
has urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to
disclose the exact amount on sales tax payable by Petroliam Nasional
Berhad (Petronas).
Referring to a local Chinese daily’s front page yesterday, Wong said the Chinese daily quoted a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader, after the coalition supreme council meeting on Friday, that the amount owed by Petronas was more than RM2 billion and the figure cited in a recent joint statement between the state government and Petronas was only a ‘rough figure’.
“Why is there discrepancy between the joint statement signed by the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali representing Sarawak government and Petronas chairman Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh and news report carried by a Chinese daily newspaper yesterday?” asked Wong.
Based on the joint statement (between state government and Petronas) on May 8, Wong said it was clearly stated that ‘Petronas via its subsidiary companies will pay in full to the Sarawak government the 5 per cent sales tax (SST) on petroleum products amounting to RM2 billion for the year 2019.’
“And now, it was reported that there will be more (money) and Petronas would need more time to calculate. Which is which? We would like the chief minister to clarify.”
Wong added the joint statement also indicated all previous agreements between the two parties (Sarawak government and Petronas) made under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (Act 144) are still valid and enforceable and Petronas is still recognised as having full ownership and control over national oil and gas development, in line with the federal constitution.
He questioned why the GPS government had to give up on state rights to challenge the validity of Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974).
“Why did GPS find it necessary to forgo Sarawak rights to challenge the PDA 1974? Why do we have to let go so easily when the court had already ruled in our favour.”
Wong felt that the matter should have been deliberated by the State Consultative Committee, headed by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, particularly matters pertaining to the negotiation, dealing and arrangement between the Sarawak Government and Petronas.
“When it comes to such a big issue of safeguarding the state’s sovereign rights and interests in oil and gas within the territory of Sarawak which affects not just the present state government of Sarawak, but also the future generations of the people of Sarawak, GPS government should not have settled this issue so perfunctorily.”
Wong said the State Consultative Committee was responsible for safeguarding the special interests, rights and the position of Sarawak as enshrined in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution and for meeting the expectation of the Sarawakians for greater autonomy and devolution of power to the state.
“It is not proper and regrettable that the negotiations, arrangement and agreement reached between the Sarawak government and Petronas had proceeded and concluded without prior notice, deliberation and sanction on the State Consultative Committee on MA63.”
Wong said Abang Johari on May 14 had said a ‘new arrangement’ regarding the state’s oil and gas resources that was being negotiated will have to go through the State Legislative Assembly Consultative Committee but ‘what is done cannot be undone’.
Moreover, Wong said he agreed with a joint statement by Tanjong Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing, Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How on May 16 expressing concerns over the agreement reached between the state government and Petronas.
“We were most concerned that the agreement reached between the Sarawak government and Petronas would have detrimental and dire financial consequences on the state and any concession made by the Sarawak government in their arrangement and agreement might contravened the desires, demands and expectations of Sarawakians,” the three assemblypersons said in their joint statement on May 16.
Wong urged the GPS-led state government to heed such advice and exhortation.
Mycomments:
Abang Johari, this idiotic cannot act abusively and indulgently like his predecessors late Tunku Rahman Ya'kub and Taib Mahmud. Every misconduct of him will be well-exposed to every Sarawakian and the whole-wide world in a wink of their eyes. He is now seen as a rolling clown down the cliff and will fall like a humpty-dumpty into pieces which can never be fixed in any manners.
Soon Koh urges CM to clear ambiguity over Sarawak’s agreement with Petronas
Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh
Referring to a local Chinese daily’s front page yesterday, Wong said the Chinese daily quoted a Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader, after the coalition supreme council meeting on Friday, that the amount owed by Petronas was more than RM2 billion and the figure cited in a recent joint statement between the state government and Petronas was only a ‘rough figure’.
“Why is there discrepancy between the joint statement signed by the Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali representing Sarawak government and Petronas chairman Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh and news report carried by a Chinese daily newspaper yesterday?” asked Wong.
Based on the joint statement (between state government and Petronas) on May 8, Wong said it was clearly stated that ‘Petronas via its subsidiary companies will pay in full to the Sarawak government the 5 per cent sales tax (SST) on petroleum products amounting to RM2 billion for the year 2019.’
“And now, it was reported that there will be more (money) and Petronas would need more time to calculate. Which is which? We would like the chief minister to clarify.”
Wong added the joint statement also indicated all previous agreements between the two parties (Sarawak government and Petronas) made under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (Act 144) are still valid and enforceable and Petronas is still recognised as having full ownership and control over national oil and gas development, in line with the federal constitution.
He questioned why the GPS government had to give up on state rights to challenge the validity of Petroleum Development Act (PDA 1974).
“Why did GPS find it necessary to forgo Sarawak rights to challenge the PDA 1974? Why do we have to let go so easily when the court had already ruled in our favour.”
Wong felt that the matter should have been deliberated by the State Consultative Committee, headed by the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, particularly matters pertaining to the negotiation, dealing and arrangement between the Sarawak Government and Petronas.
“When it comes to such a big issue of safeguarding the state’s sovereign rights and interests in oil and gas within the territory of Sarawak which affects not just the present state government of Sarawak, but also the future generations of the people of Sarawak, GPS government should not have settled this issue so perfunctorily.”
Wong said the State Consultative Committee was responsible for safeguarding the special interests, rights and the position of Sarawak as enshrined in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution and for meeting the expectation of the Sarawakians for greater autonomy and devolution of power to the state.
“It is not proper and regrettable that the negotiations, arrangement and agreement reached between the Sarawak government and Petronas had proceeded and concluded without prior notice, deliberation and sanction on the State Consultative Committee on MA63.”
Wong said Abang Johari on May 14 had said a ‘new arrangement’ regarding the state’s oil and gas resources that was being negotiated will have to go through the State Legislative Assembly Consultative Committee but ‘what is done cannot be undone’.
Moreover, Wong said he agreed with a joint statement by Tanjong Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing, Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How on May 16 expressing concerns over the agreement reached between the state government and Petronas.
“We were most concerned that the agreement reached between the Sarawak government and Petronas would have detrimental and dire financial consequences on the state and any concession made by the Sarawak government in their arrangement and agreement might contravened the desires, demands and expectations of Sarawakians,” the three assemblypersons said in their joint statement on May 16.
Wong urged the GPS-led state government to heed such advice and exhortation.
Mycomments:
Abang Johari, this idiotic cannot act abusively and indulgently like his predecessors late Tunku Rahman Ya'kub and Taib Mahmud. Every misconduct of him will be well-exposed to every Sarawakian and the whole-wide world in a wink of their eyes. He is now seen as a rolling clown down the cliff and will fall like a humpty-dumpty into pieces which can never be fixed in any manners.
The ending is bad 13/5/2020
The
ending is bad 13/5/2020
Abang Johari lacks the blessing of the
ignorance of Sarawakians that Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, the third Chief Minister of
Sarawak (1970 -1981) enjoyed fully.
Abang Johari lacks the bessings of the
helplessness and frustrations of Sarawakians that Taib Mahmud had at his
disposal. Thus he ruled Sarawak 33+
years absolutely to his likings and fully to his indulgences.
He
has eaten all the bessings meant for his successors.
Abang Johari also lacks the
blessings of Adenan Satem who quickly undid a number of abuses Taib Mahmud
practised at will. So, he was applaused
for being people-centric, caring and mindful.
He won the hearts of most Sarawakians who saw how he made their life
easier.
Abang Johari was lucky to take the
lofty seat left by Adenan Satem, the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak when he
died untimely. Abang Johari has not been
tested on how widely he will be accepted in the election yet though he tries
very hard to copy Adenan Satem to win the hearts of Sarawakians. He gives financial aids in one way or another
though often these aids are too blurred to benefit the targeted people. We saw all the shortcomings in the
distribution of food aids when the curfew started for Covid 19.
One of his fatalities is his
settlement of dispute with Petronas outside the court and accepted the payment
of RM2 billion for the 5% sales tax imposed on oil and gas which by proper
calculation for the year 2019 is supposed to be so much higher than RM 2
billion. Everything is blurred being a
blurred and muddle-headed person. He
has been condemned by activists, leaders and members of the public being so idiotic,
cowardice and incapable.
In PRN12 election, I believe that he
has to face his enemies from all sides – Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Parti Sarawak
Bersatu, PH Sarawak, Aspirasi and so on.
It is just not easy for him to survive, that’s it.
Worst of all is his recognition of
PDA74 which he used to claim it to be illegal, void and null as it was passed
without the approval of Sarawak Assembly.
But now he has acknowledged Petronas to have the full rights to operate in Sarawak so much to the shock of
every watchful and mindful Sarawakians.
Yes, like his father Tun Haji Openg, he has every DNA to betray
Sarawakians for his self-interest and official position.
Unfortunately, in the age of internet,
he is doomed for his misbehaviors as the Chief Minister of Sarawak as he has
failed to protect the rights of Sarawak all for the benefits of the rakyat whom
he is supposed to take care of. Now, the
question is why Sarawakians should keep the government which has failed to
protect the rights of Sarawak? by Belinda Ling Moi Hung
Saturday, 23 May 2020
FranklinCovey's The 7 Habits Video Preview: Mauritius
FranklinCovey's The 7 Habits Video Preview: Mauritius
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