We are glad that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari agreed and met with the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) representatives on Thursday to hear their support for the State Government and proposals on tackling the just-erupted PETRONAS’ court challenge to Sarawak’s announced decision to implement, enforce under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) the State’s rights to fully regulate our oil and gas resources effective from July 1, this year.
Among the 50-odd legal minds at the DUN Complex was opposition party PKR’s Sarawak Vice-Chairman See Chee How who has been on the subject for a long while and voiced his opinions publicly with little reservations.
The AAS representatives have pledged their assistance to the State Government in ‘anyway they can’. They are offering their service for free.
We applaud their patriotic gesture and Abang Johari’s open mind in inviting lawyers from the opposition parties to join in the battle to protect Sarawakians’ interests.
As Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relationships and Project Monitoring Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali put it ‘We’ll fight PETRONAS tooth and nail and will not surrender even an inch. This has nothing to do with political alignment or ideology. This is for Sarawak.”
Tourism, Arts,Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said there was beauty in seeing all the Sarawak lawyers joining forces on the issue with the State Government.
What pleases us also is that the PETRONAS case is helping to being out the sense of belonging from almost all Sarawakians who follow the event.
Police reports have been made against PETRONAS and signature campaigns launched in several cities and towns in the state during the last few days.
We are certain that Sarawakians will continue to rally behind the State Government in its fight to regain the full regulatory power over our oil and gas resources.
We have no doubt that, legality aside, with the swell in public opinion and on moral grounds, Sarawak will prevail.
A Group of Concerned Sarawakians
