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Continue to fight for state’s rights – Lina Soo

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Ting (extremem left) with the State’s legal team at the Federal Court yesterday.
Ting (extremem left) with the State’s legal team at the Federal Court yesterday.

KUCHING: Sarawak Reform Party (STAR) is urging the State Government to continue to fight on the State’s oil and gas resources, and regard that the winning against Petronas Suit was winning game of round one for Sarawak.

Its President Lina Soo, said it is a victory for the people as Sarawak’s rights and protections under the Sarawak Constitution, the Malaysia Agreement, and Federal Constitution are intact and enshrined in its constitutional documents. “However, this is only round one to Sarawak, and cautions of a long struggle to recover our stolen rights and powers which had been usurped by the Federal Government over the decades,” she said when contacted yesterday.

She said on to suggestion by Petronas to seek declaration Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 was repeal by Petroleum Development Act (PDA) is ludicrous and preposterous because the law cannot be repealed by implication.

“How can a Federal Law subvert Sarawak law which has been there since 1958 before the formation of Malaysia? Federal law cannot amend Malaysia Agreement rights as MA63 is a multi-lateral international treaty which cannot be amended without all 5 nations going back to the negotiating table,” she stressed.

She explained that in Article 1(3) of the Federal Constitution says Sarawak political boundary is pre-1963 boundary which is specified in Sarawak (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council 1954. And that how can PDA change Sarawak’s boundary or repeal this Order by implication?

“The Sarawak government never passed a law through its State Legislative Assembly (DUN),” she said.

Soo said any unilateral attempt to amend MA63 is a breach of the international treaty agreement and the PDA is a serious violation of MA63 which has subverted the rights, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sarawak.

“I urged the Sarawak Government to evaluate this fundamental breach of MA63 without fear or favour, and take action accordingly,” she pointed out.

She also said Petronas has not been paying mining and related fees to Sarawak for the last 42 years and believes that the arrears accumulated must have reached One Trillion USD.

“I requests the Sarawak Finance Minister to prepare the bill and collect the outstanding payment from Petronas so that Sarawak will have the means to finance the Pan Borneo highway and provide water, electricity and healthcare to our rural population,”

“Not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.”

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