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Thursday, August 23, 2012

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMAND NEW OIL DEAL




“THE SABAH government should take this golden opportunity to demand and sign a new and better oil agreement with Petronas and the federal government,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Chairman of STAR Sabah in response to the statement given by the Chief Minister that the State’s 5% petroleum royalty review issue is open for amicable discussions with the federal government.

“If the Chief Minister is truly a Sabahan at heart, this is the most opportune time to not only seek a review but to demand and negotiate a new deal for Sabah’s oil and gas resources for the benefit of Sabah and its future. It cannot be denied that any increase in the oil revenue including the offer of 20% by Pakatan Rakyat is definitely for the benefit of Sabah and Sabahans” added Dr. Jeffrey.
The old oil agreement is nearly 4 decades old and a new oil deal is certainly needed for the future of Sabah. The so-called review will also test the sincerity of the federal government and the Sabah leaders as well as the extent of the federal-state relationship.

The battle for Putrajaya to be decided in Sabah and Sarawak

In addition, it is important to realize that the seat of government in Putrajaya is now likely to be decided by Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore, the Sabah and Sarawak leaders must leverage on their role as kingmakers.

Sabah and Sarawak leaders must ensure that the rights and interests of Sabah and Sarawak come first.And, if the federal government does not agree to increase the share of oil revenue for Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah and Sarawak leaders, as kingmakers, should just change the federal government.

The State government should also adopt a holistic approach to the old oil agreement in seeking a new deal.

Oil Agreement Unconstitutional?

Many are of the opinion that the existing oil agreement is unconstitutional and invalid because it is not only unfair but infringes on a fundamental state rights. They also question the authority and the manner of the then Chief Minister in signing away the oil rights without approval from the State Legislative Assembly. The terms of the agreement are not only loop-sided but grossly unfair to the oil-producing states.

5% Not Oil Royalties

The Chief Minister also need to better understand the existing oil agreement.

Firstly, the current 5% is a cash payment payable by Petronas under Section 4 of the Petroleum Development Act, 1974 in return for the ownership and the rights, powers, liberties and privileges of the oil and gas resources vested to Petronas by the State and is not royalty at all. Furthermore, Section 4 provides that the cash payment is to be agreed between the parties, and not imposed upon.

There was unlikely to have been any negotiations in 1976 for the amount of the cash payment. If it had been properly negotiated, it would not have ended up at a mere 5% for transfer of ownership of the oil and gas resources to Petronas. In fact, the then Chief Minster had recently stated that the State was forced to accept the 5% cash payment.

Secondly, very few people know that in fact under Clause 4 of the 1976 agreement that was signed 8 days after the Double Six Tragedy, the State government was also asked to agree to waive or to reject Sabah’s rights to royalties on the oil and gas resources.

Therefore, in the new deal, the Chief Minister should seek the restoration of Sabah’s rights to impose oil royalties which are provided under the State List of the Federal Constitution and Section 24 of the Land Ordinance, Sabah Cap. 68.

How Much Potential Oil Royalties Did Sabah Lose?

Thirdly, as explained, the current 5% oil revenue receivable by the State is cash payment under Section 4 of the Petroleum Development Act and nothing to do with royalties.

In a video recording done in 1975, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who was then Minister of Finance and President of Petronas explained that royalties entitlements of the states was 12% for up to 3 miles from the shoreline, and with the federal government getting 10% for up to 10 miles and 8% to the federal government for up to the international boundary.

Assuming that this was implemented, Sabah would have gotten or received a total of at least 17% in oil revenue with 12% in royalties and 5% cash payment.

It is STAR’s view that Sabah should receive at least 30% in royalties because Sabah’s boundary is the same as the international boundary as Sabah gained independence on 31 August 1963 thereby establishing its international boundary as a nation. This means Malaysia’s international boundary coincide with Sabab’s international boundary.

STAR’s Views

As part of STAR Sabah’s causes and aspirations for Sabah, STAR is seeking an increase of the oil revenue to 50% nett revenue excluding royalties which are payable even if the ownership is transferred to Petronas. It is set out in STAR’s Petroleum Masterplan which is comprehensive and covers a wide range of policies for Sabah’s oil and gas beneficial to Sabah and Sabahans.

It is also STAR’s view that Sabah’s or Sarawak’s oil rights CANNOT be transferred as it belongs to the States but can only be leased or assigned for a specific period.

An increase from 5% to 50% will bring in an additional amount of at least about RM7.0 billion a year for Sabah. It will definitely help Sabahans and alleviate if not eliminate poverty totally in Sabah.

The additional RM7.0 billion will be proof that the federal and state governments are sincere in resolving the oil issue and talk of asking for a review is not just mere election gimmick to hoodwink the voters in Sabah in the coming general elections.

Sabah BN should touch their heart and impose their political will and secure a new oil deal for the future and benefit of Sabahans and not pay mere lip service and play the issue up as an election gimmick . And if the federal government and Petronas does not agree to a new deal for Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah and Sarawak should stand united and change the federal government for the sake of Sabahans and Sarawakians alike. (STAR Media)

24 comments:

  1. PR berjanji untuk menuntut kenaikan royalti dari 5% kepada 20%, STAR pula dari 5% kepada 50%. Lihatlah sejauh mana mereka dapat tunaikannya.

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    1. Semua itu juga janji kosong yang dibuat oleh pembangkang/.

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    2. Betul Datuk Musa Aman juga telah membuat perbincangan untuk menyemak semula mengenai perkara ini. Harap royalti Sabah akan dinaikkan dari asal 5% itu.

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    3. pembangkang hnya beri janji kosong, tk perlu pecaya.

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  2. Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman percaya isu penyemakan semula royalti minyak sebanyak lima peratus yang dibayar kepada Sabah adalah terbuka untuk dibincangkan antara kerajaan negeri dan Kerajaan Pusat secara baik.

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  3. Janji Pakatan Rakyat untuk meningkatkan bayaran royalti minyak Sabah dari 5 peratus kepada 20 peratus merupakan janji yang tidak logik-Musa Aman

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  4. Musa berkata wang dari hasil minyak Sabah disalurkan semula ke negeri itu melalui perbelanjaan oleh kerajaan persekutuan.kerajaan pusat telah membelanjakan berbilion ringgit bagi membangun pelbagai infrastruktur termasuk sekolah hospital, jalan raya dan sebagainya.

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  5. "Itu belum lagi dicampur dengan kos pertahanan dan kesealamatan negeri yangmemakan belanja besar. Kita perlu mengambil kira banyak pengagihan lain yang diberikan oleh kerajana pusat melalui pelbagai kaedah, kita perlu lihat dari skop yang lebih luas," katanya.

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  6. Sabah Puteri Umno supports the review of the five per cent oil royalty to Sabah saying that it was high time as the treaty was signed more than four decades ago.

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    1. Its chief, Musliati Moslimin said, the government needed to review the royalty in the best interest of Sabahans.

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    2. From a personel point of view as a Sabahan, Musliati believes that the government should take a look at the rate of oil royalty given to Sabah.

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    3. The time has come to give it serious attention because the five per cent was decided based on an agreement more than forty years ago. Today is a new era and it must be reviewed.

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    4. She agreed with the Chief Minister who wants the issue to be discussed amicably and with no pressure because we (Sabah) are in Malaysia after all.But it is better if Sabahans and Sarawakians are given extra privileges since both these states are the main contributors to the nation’s petroleum production.

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    5. She was asked to comment on the statement by Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman on Tuesday that the five per cent oil royalty review was open for discussion with the federal government.

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    6. So it is not wrong if it is raised for the development of the states. Asked if the discussions would be held in the near future, Musliati said: “Sooner or later, let the outcome be a positive one for the good of the people, the state and Malaysia.”

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    7. On promises made by the opposition to increase the oil royalty to Sabah from five to 20 per cent, she said that is the view of the opposition and they can promise whatever they wish but will not be able to fulfill it.Musliati hoped that it will be more than that (five per cent).

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    8. And, it is not that the opposition has raised the issue that BN are now following it up. The Barisan Nasional component parties and people in Sabah have all said the royalty should go up with some suggesting 20 per cent, 10 per cent and more.

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    9. This is not the demand of just one person but all Sabahans. However, it is up to the central leadership to make a decision. Let the decision be a ‘win-win’ situation that will benefit the people of Sabah and the Malaysian government.

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    10. Everyone is free to make suggestions but suggestions should be reasonable. As Malaysians, we must be fair with the federal government because we are one country. Whatever income we have, we need to share with the other states.

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  7. the statement by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that a review on the oil royalty could be discussed amicably between the state and federal governments as appropriate and should be supported by everyone including all leaders from opposition side.

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  8. When the Chief Minister made the statement, the people's reaction was that they believed that the state government was doing something to correct the situation.

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  9. It was reported that Najib was setting up a committee to study petroleum royalties to east coast states in the peninsula, following a call for an increase by Barisan Nasional elected representatives.

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  10. Over the years, political leaders from Sabah and Sarawak have been asking for a rise in the royalties, from the current five per cent. I believe this matter (oil royalty review) will be studied thoroughly and the outcome will be favourable to all parties involved..

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  11. lastly, we congratulate the Chief Minister and Prime Minister who is concerned about the interest of the people and was prepared to discuss with the Federal government amicably in the interest of the people and state..

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