Anwar asserts Petronas' South China Sea activities within M'sian waters

 

PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he informed Beijing that Malaysia’s national oil and gas company Petronas’ excavation activities in the South China Sea were within Malaysian waters.

This comes amid concerns that these activities were in an area of an overlapping claim by China.

“This matter was raised (with China) because both sides have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, especially China’s concerns over Petronas carrying out large-scale activities in an area that is also claimed by China.

“I informed Prime Minister Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping that Malaysia considers the area as Malaysian waters.

“As such, Petronas will continue its excavation in the area,” Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat during the Prime Minister’s Question Time today.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Yesterday, the premier said Malaysia was prepared to negotiate with China over the South China Sea dispute.

He said the issue was raised at the four-eyed meeting with Xi during his official visit to China, as Petronas has the largest platform for oil exploration operating in the area.

“China is also staking claim over the area. I said as a small country that needs oil and gas resources, we have to continue, but if the condition is that there must be negotiations, then we are ready to negotiate,” he said. - Mkini