Rebuild trust in wake of ‘espionage’ allegations, Petronas, Petros told

Sarawak PN chief Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian says such misconduct, if proven true, is bound to affect ongoing ‘high stakes’ negotiations.

Sarawak Bersatu head Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian has urged Petronas and Petros to maintain open communication channels and establish regular and frank dialogue.

PETALING JAYA:

 A politician has urged Petronas and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) to prioritise rebuilding mutual trust after the national oil company’s former manager was charged with attempting to divulge confidential information to the Sarawak state company.

On Friday, Khairul Akmal Jasni, 40, was charged with attempting to leak a business document obtained in the course of his duties to Petros in June last year.

Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian.

“Should these allegations of corporate espionage be substantiated, there’s every reason to believe that they would deepen the mistrust already present in (ongoing) high-stakes negotiations (between the two companies),” Sarawak Perikatan Nasional chief Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian told FMT.

Jaziri said the legal process, which presumes the accused innocent until proven guilty, must run its course. “Only through an impartial and thorough investigation can we ascertain the facts and mitigate any undue, long-term harm to trust between the parties.”

However, he pointed out that trust between Petronas and Petros “rests on the expectation of ethical conduct, transparency and mutual respect”.

“Restoring trust in any relationship, especially one as strategically significant as that between Petronas and Petros, requires deliberate, transparent and constructive measures,” he told FMT.

Jaziri, who is also the Sarawak Bersatu head, called for Petronas and Petros to maintain open communication channels and establish regular and frank dialogue. He also urged both corporations to establish “confidence building measures” to promote transparency, including through joint committees involving independent experts.

“Any verified misconduct should be met with swift and appropriate legal consequences,” he said, adding that this would reassure stakeholders that unethical practices will not be tolerated.

Khairul was charged under Section 203A(1) read with Section 511 of the Penal Code and, if convicted, will be liable to a minimum fine of RM1 million, or imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

FMT has reached out to Petros for comments on the matter.

MA63

Jaziri also said there should be no compromise in obtaining what is due to Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). “This remains a cornerstone of Sarawak’s identity and autonomy.”

However, he said there is a compelling case for Petros to “temporarily shift its focus from seeking additional control under this agreement”.

Jaziri said Petros should instead reallocate its resources towards harnessing its newly acquired assets through initiatives that bolster operational strength.

“This could mean channeling investments into cutting edge technologies to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies, such as through digital transformation tools, renewable energy solutions, data analytics platforms,” he said.

He also called for the Sarawak government to “look beyond localised benefits” and work hand-in-hand with Petronas to benefit the nation at large by aligning state and national aspirations.

“A well-synchronised approach may well redefine what it means to fuel state and national development concurrently,” he said, especially in the wake of disruptions to the global supply chain caused by the Trump tariffs, an ongoing trade war, and geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

“Both Petros and the Sarawak government can ensure our collective efforts ripple outwards, underpinning a strategy that elevates community welfare, spurs technological advancement and solidifies Malaysia’s position as a key player in the global energy arena,”said Jaziri. - FMT