Bipartisan committee for Sarawak’s oil and gas rights redundant, says PBB Youth

 

Sarawak DAP Youth had proposed that a bipartisan committee be established to strengthen the state’s position in negotiations with the federal government over its oil and gas rights. (Petronas pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth has labelled as redundant a proposal by its DAP counterpart for a bipartisan committee on oil and gas.

The wing’s secretary, Azizul Annuar Adenan said there was no need for such a committee as negotiations between the state and the federal governments were progressing well, the Borneo Post reported.

He also said other committees, in particular the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) committee, comprising state and federal representatives, had been established to fight for Sarawak’s rights.

And these committees had experienced some success, Azizul said, citing deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof.

“Rather than setting up a committee which will be redundant, (Sarawak) DAP Youth could start by strategising with their counterparts in the federal government and in Parliament to support our fight for our rights in Parliament,” Azizul was quoted as saying.

Sarawak DAP Youth had earlier today proposed that a bipartisan committee be established to strengthen the state’s position in negotiations with the federal government over its oil and gas rights.

The wing’s political education bureau chief Jordan Soo said the proposal had been submitted to the premier’s office.

Earlier this month, Sarawak DAP, an opposition party in the state, said it was prepared to work with the state’s ruling coalition in its dispute with the federal government over its oil and gas rights.

Sarawak DAP Youth secretary George Lam said the time has come for his party and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to call for a truce and end the politicking.

Separately, GPS senator Robert Lau condemned the “siphoning” of natural resources from East Malaysia to develop other states, which left Sabah and Sarawak lagging behind Peninsular Malaysia in terms of development.

“Sarawak and Sabah continue to remain short of funds for development and we still have a lot of poverty in our place,” he was quoted as saying.

Lau also took issue with a FMT report titled “End bickering over Petronas’ O&G rights, ex-Treasury man tells Sarawak”, claiming it portrayed the Sarawak government in a negative light.

“It is this kind of news report that keeps getting published which paints a bad picture of the Sarawak government as well as confusion about the issue of O&G in Sarawak.” - FMT