KUCHING: The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), a non-profit organisation, will hold a special online webinar on how Sarawak could move forward with the Petroleum Development Act 1974.
Entitled “How to move forward on the Petroleum Development Act 1974,” it will be delivered by Alex Ling on March 12 via zoom platform, at 2.30pm.
The talk will explore the entirety of the Act’s inception, its relevancy and how many of the current laws that should be rectified to meet the current needs, especially in the distribution of oil royalties from the sales of crude oil and gases from the coastal shores of Sarawak and Sabah to the federal government.
It will also look into the appropriate amendments of the Acts through fair, amicable and diplomatic negotiations with all relevant parties pertaining the issue.
“The Petroleum Development Act (PDA) was enacted in 1974. It has entrusted Petronas the entire ownership in and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges of exploring, exploiting, winning and obtaining petroleum whether onshore or offshore of Malaysia,” TSI said in a statement.
Ling, a law graduate attended the Methodist Primary School in Sibu, Millfield School Somerset in England as well as St Joseph’s School in Kuching, before he went to University of Cambridge in 1965.
After getting his BA (CANTAB) (TRIPOS) in Law, he did a postgraduate degree in MA LLB, majoring in tax, corporate law, constitutional law, public and private international laws.
The veteran lawyer was called to the Bar in 1970 in Lincoln’s Inn and had worked in Yong and Wong, before he joined Rodyk & Davidson and David Marshall’s legal firm in Singapore.
He has helmed a few directorship positions in the banking sector, his other extensive portfolio included director of LBS Timber Group in Malaysia and Indonesia from 1971 to 2000.
He was also involved in businesses in the mining sector with large investments in natural resources such oil, gas and coal.
Ling, an avid writer, has published a series of articles on the Malaysia Act 1963 (MA63) and oil and gas issues in the local media.
He is currently writing a biography of the late Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, entitled ‘Why YAB Adenan Satem Crossed the Red Line’.
Those interested to attend the online talk can visit TSI’s website at www.thesarawakinitiatives.org or contact the organisation at 019-8767928 for registration.
