KOTA KINABALU – A motion to oppose the Territorial Sea Act 2012 will be made by the state government, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor today.
The (Sulaman-PN) assemblyman said the proposal to reject the federal law is also part of resolving Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) issues.
“Insyallah, it was a good suggestion, and we can file a motion on this later as part of resolving MA63 issues.
“I believe this is also the hope of the people in Sabah and those in this honourable legislative hall,” he said in response to a question from Datuk Darell Leiking (Moyog-Warisan) during his winding-up speech.
Leiking had yesterday questioned the chief minister on Sabah’s stand on the Territorial Sea Act 2012 as it has already been opposed to by Sarawak and Kelantan, which, like Sabah, are oil-producing states.
The imposition of the Act on Sabah will limit state waters to just three-nautical miles as opposed to the original 200 nautical miles or up to the continental shelf.
On the MA63, Hajiji said that Sabah stands firm on its rights over its territory, as stated under the North Borneo (Alteration of Boundaries) Order in Council 1954, which includes the continental shelf.
In a similar development, Hajiji said a special state technical committee will relook the state’s oil and gas interests.
He said the committee is chaired by Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, adding that among its functions include formulating proposals and recommendations in the commercial solution agreement (CSA) talks with national oil company Petronas.
The CSA members comprise Masidi, the state secretary, finance minister’s permanent secretary, state economic planning unit director, prime minister’s legal adviser and former Shell Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Lim Haw Kuang, representing the state.
Negotiations will be handled by the Finance Ministry and led by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee on behalf of the federal government, he said.
“I have had a discussion with Tengku Zafrul on the petroleum and gas industry in Sabah, and had an early negotiation with Masidi and Petronas president and chief executive officer (Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz) on August 21.
“The response from Petronas was very positive. We will ensure a follow-up is conducted through the technical committee.”
Hajiji said Sabah will ask for more power for the state to make decisions regarding oil and gas development in Sabah, a bigger portion of oil and gas revenue from assets produced by the state, more opportunities in government-linked companies and for more opportunities for locals to join and invest in oil and gas activities (upstream and downstream). – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong
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