PM: Petronas not yielding to China, Muhyiddin should pay attention

 

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin should pay more attention and attend Parliament to better understand the South China Sea dispute with China, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

Speaking to reporters today, Anwar (above, left) said that Malaysia would continue with Petronas’ operations in a portion of the South China Sea.

“This is the problem of the opposition chief, unable to pay attention, does not attend Parliament and listen to our opinions, and does not read statements and explanations.

“I have consistently said that Petronas’ operations will continue, it is our area,” he said after the launch of the Kita Untuk Kita ceremony in Shah Alam today.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin (above, right) blasted Anwar for supposedly making careless remarks about the South China Sea dispute, claiming that the latter’s comments could indirectly confirm China’s claim to an area that is legally Malaysian territory.

The Pagoh MP also took issue with Anwar’s statement on the presence of Chinese naval ships in waters claimed by seven countries, including Malaysia.

This was after Anwar said Malaysia is open to negotiations following Beijing voicing its disapproval of Petronas’ operations in a portion of the South China Sea.

No compromise

Anwar maintained today that Malaysia would not compromise with China regarding the national oil and gas company’s explorations.

“I never said I would compromise and I would like to send that message to the leaders of China that it would not be done.

“After China’s overlapping claims, (I said) we would discuss. But that (the discussions) will not get in the way of postponing projects.

“There is no contradiction to what we will compromise on... we believe that it is our area, and road projects, Petronas’ operations will not be affected,” he said.

China had previously asserted that Petronas’ oil and gas exploration had encompassed international waterways - including part of its “nine-dash line” claim across the South China Sea. 

The nine-dash line is a boundary that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague determined to be without legal foundation in 2016.

Using the nine-dash line, China has continued to encroach on the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Philippines in the South China Sea. - Mkini