SIBU: The national oil corporation, Petronas’ board should abide by the courts decision and that of its chairman, the prime minister, to pay the State Sales Tax (SST).
Newly minted senator Robert Lau Hui Yew said it was disturbing to read the news purportedly saying Petronas’ board of directors was against the prime minister’s decision for the company to pay the SST.
“I hope this purported sentiments of the board members as reported are not true.
“The prime minister’s stand to get Petronas to pay and abide by Sarawak’s law is a correct decision. The prime minister is the chairman of the board and the company,” he said, adding that the board members cannot over-ride the prime minister.
He said Petronas was legally and morally bound to pay the sales tax imposed by the Sarawak government.
Sarawak has obtained judgement against Petronas for the sales tax, he added.
“Petronas has to comply with Sarawak’s law when operating in Sarawak. Petronas operates in foreign countries and it complies with their laws. Likewise it has to comply with the domestic law.
“Petronas should be grateful for the wealth it derived from the shores of Sarawak over the last half a century. It will be good for the board members to travel the length and breadth of Sarawak to see how far behind the state is lagging in terms of development compared to Malaya. One has to be grateful for the fortune and appreciate the contribution of Sarawak.
“Much of Petronas’ profits was and continues to be derived from Sarawak. For too long the oil and gas wealth derived from Sarawak’s shore have been used to develop Malaya to the neglect of Sarawak,” Lau said.
He pointed out that mega projects like the Twin Towers and Putrajaya were banked rolled by such money. For decades, Petronas paid yearly dividends in the tens of billions to the Federal government.
“This year Petronas paid RM24 billion to the federal government and it was reportedly considering paying more dividends. “Last year, Petronas paid a whopping RM54 billion dividend to federal government,” Lau said.
