SRI AMAN: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has assured that he will not budge an inch in the fight for Sarawak rights.
“I will not give even an inch of concession when it comes to our terms for our oil and gas,” he reiterated.
He clarified that decisions regarding Sarawak’s oil and gas rights would not be made solely by him.
“I will not make my own decisions. I will report back to the DUN (State Legislative Assembly) first and discuss with the consultative committee,” Abang Johari emphasised during the launch of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Zone 6 roadshow at Lachau, near here yesterday.
He wanted to set the record straight as various parties had claimed that decisions would be made by him alone.
“My position is as a representative of Sarawak and I will give feedback to the people of Sarawak first,” Abang Johari stated on matters to be discussed with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The discussions would include the oil and gas rights of Sarawak.
He stressed that GPS was determined to defend the rights of Sarawak.
Abang Johari added that Dr Mahathir had decided to hold these discussions with him and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the prime minister had felt that there were too many layers to navigate in the previous oil and gas discussions.
Prior to this, the negotiation was done through the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Also present at the roadshow were Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian; Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah; Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Assistant Minister Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and DUN Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.
