KUCHING: The settlement reached by the Sarawak government and national oil and Gas Company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) is a manifestation of the government’s good ruling and always putting the people’s interest first, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He thanked the federal government, and in particular Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, for his concern towards Sarawak and its people with regard to the agreement reached on the oil and gas matters and sales tax on petroleum products.
“My appointment, representing Sarawak as chairman together with Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz in the negotiation process is a mandate that I will carry out with full responsibility for the common good,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He reiterated that the settlement would allow the Sarawak government’s joint involvement in the development of the oil and gas industry with Petronas in the state, without changing the role of Petronas as the national oil company.
“This is good news, much awaited by the people of Sarawak, parallel with Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
Fadillah said the settlement agreement via negotiation was achieved through the good relationship between the leadership at both levels, “the Prime Minister at the federal level, and the Sarawak government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg”.
