KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak should fight for 20 percent oil royalty instead of accepting the country’s current oil subsidy arrangement as not all groups benefit from it, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Central Women’s chief Kho Teck Wan.
Kho said she was made to understand that the fuel subsidy scheme that will be introduced in January 1, 2020 was a result of a RM25-million research project awarded by the federal government.
“If you look at petroleum prices over the past 10 years, the average was around RM1.98. The only times the prices of RON95 exceeded RM2.08 were in 2014, 2017 and 2018.
“Personally, RM2.08 may be a fair price recommended by the experts who conducted the study, but being the biggest oil and gas producer who contribute over RM200 million everyday to the national coffers, Sarawak should get more benefit than the above ten-year average price of RM2.08 per litre.
“The fact is not all BSH recipients are motorists or car owners. Some use petrol to power their boats or run generators or run small machines. Are they eligible for the subsidy as well?” she asked.
She urged state legislators and Members of Parliament, especially those from Pakatan Harapan, not to be content with the RM2.08 for RON95, but fight for the 20% oil royalty and the return of 50% sales tax as promised to Sarawak during the 14th general election.
She reminded Members of Parliament from Pakatan Harapan that Petronas had yet to pay Sarawak the 5% sales tax imposed on petroleum products, and it was their duty to fight for Sarawak instead of remaining silent.
