KUCHING: It was yet another historic moment for the Sarawak when the commercial settlement agreement between the state and national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) was signed on Monday.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said both the state government and Petronas had agreed to establish a consultative framework to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the terms of the agreement, to ensure that the interests of the state would be given the utmost consideration by Petronas in its decision-making process, especially pertaining to the management of the offshore petroleum operations.
Petronas president and group chief executive officer Tengku Muhammad Taufik said the consultative framework would see the state more actively involved in Sarawak’s onshore oil and gas activities through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), including the development of the Sarawak Gas Master Plan.
Many of oil and gas industry players welcomed the good news and hoped it would not only the benefit the state, but Sarawakians as a whole through the oil and gas activities. They also hoped more opportunities would be given to them to be involved in the oil and gas activities.
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DATUK RAHMAN LARIWOO (Sarawak Petroleum Contractor’s Association (Speca) president)
‘This could be the beginning of Petros’ active involvement in the future. With Petros playing its role as a state entity, the door will open for other players to be involved in downstream and upstream activities.’
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DATUK IR JANANG BUNGSU (Sarawak Petroleum Contractor’s Association (Speca) executive committee member)
‘The agreement signifies the state has achieved another important milestone in claiming our rights as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). With the signing of this agreement, I hope local oil and gas players will be given more opportunities to be involved in the oil and gas activities in the state.’
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JAMAL ABDULLAH (Sarawak Oil and Gas Workers Association (Sogwa) president)
‘It’s a road map for the establishment of local oil and gas player which we, Sogwa, expect to be inclusive in terms of employment opportunities for our local Sarawakians. I foresee it will boost our state coffer and the development of our state.’
