Abang Jo ready to defend Sarawak’s gas rights in court

 

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg says ‘I know what I’m doing’ about the state’s move to take over the distribution of natural gas in the state. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg is ready to go to court if any party disrespects Sarawak’s rights as the sole gas aggregator in the state.

“I know what I am doing. Being the sole gas aggregator in Sarawak is our right, and if anyone disrespects that, I am willing to face them in court,” he said in Simunjan today, Berita Harian reported.

He also dismissed claims on social media that Sarawak would earn RM100 billion a year if it had the sole right to distribute natural gas in the state. “That is just a false claim meant to incite people,” he said.

Abang Johari, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu president, was speaking at the party’s youth assembly in Simunjan.

Last month, a Singapore news report said national petroleum company Petronas was expected to take court action against the Sarawak move, but the state government, Petronas and Petros have denied the report.

The Sarawak government has sought to have state-owned Petroleum Sarawak (Petros) take control over the buying and selling of gas in the state.

Petronas, which holds a monopoly over petroleum and gas resources, has sought to delay implementation of the Sarawak law on gas distribution, which provides for Petros to be the sole gas aggregator in the state.

Both parties are said to be continuing discussions on the matter. - FMT