JUDICIAL REVIEW ON SARAWAK VS PETRONAS CASE
KUCHING: Veteran lawyer Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is certain that Sarawak’s legal team is very well-prepared to counter all arguments presented by Peroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) against the imposition of the State Sales Tax (SST).
The Santubong MP was present at the Kuching High Court yesterday in support of the State Legal Counsel Datuk Seri JC Fong and State Attorney-General Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid.
Petronas’ legal team submitted their arguments during the hearing on the judicial review yesterday while the state’s lawyers should be ready to present theirs today (Feb 4).
“We know what they focused on and we know how to make the counter arguments. Don’t worry about it. Whatever happens, Sarawakians stand together,” he told reporters at the courthouse.
Wan Junaidi said he was confident that the state’s legal team would present very solid and strong arguments.
In a separate press statement, Wan Junaidi said that the court case is going to open a ‘Pandora’s box’ of details on the relationship between the federal government and Sarawak.
“It is not just the right of Sarawak to impose sales tax on petroleum products that the court has to grapple with. The aforementioned Ordinance and most of all the Petroleum Development Act of 1974 will be under scrutiny,” he said.
He said all right thinking Sarawakians support the state government’s effort to get this right back whatever the legal outcome may be.
“I am certain the state legal team has done their homework and know what they are doing,” he said.
“After this, let’s see how serious the federal government will be in restoring all Sarawak rights, notwithstanding past state administration’s misjudgment in assisting the central government during the bad old days.
“Now, we want the federal government not to just tout its intentions with slogans and manifestos, and not to allow its leaders to be seen as liars. Give back Sarawak rights, especially the right over oil and gas.”
