KOTA KINABALU – Sabah’s top leaders have lauded Putrajaya’s decision to transfer regulatory powers over gas sourced from within Sabah’s territory to the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor described Putrajaya’s move as a step forward towards realising the terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
In welcoming the decision, he said this has always been the aspiration of Sabah and its people.
“The state government has been steadfast in our pursuit to take control of and manage the state’s oil and gas resources,” he said.
Hajiji said he had raised the need to fulfil MA63’s terms during his first meeting with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after he was appointed prime minister recently.
Anwar had announced the decision earlier today, explaining that the implementation date for the transfer would be made after obtaining the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Upon the royal consent being given, the Sabah assembly will convene a special sitting to approve and gazette bills for gas supply.
The Energy Commission of Sabah will then take over all regulatory powers for onshore gas supply – regasification, transmission, distribution, use of gas by private licensees, and retail – in Sabah with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in welcoming the move said he hoped the realisation of this effort will be followed with meeting MA63’s 21 demands on state rights.
The 21 demands had been presented by the Sabah and Sarawak governments in the special cabinet committee on MA63’s implementation when the country was ruled by Pakatan Harapan (PH) from 2018 to 2020.
“At this point, 17 of the 21 demands have been agreed between the previous PH government and the two state governments at the time.
“Four more items have still not been resolved, comprising oil royalties, petroleum cash payments, oil fields, Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750), and East Malaysia’s rights to the continental shelf,” he said.
Earlier today, Anwar revealed the supervision of gas supply will be devolved to Sabah, similar to what Sarawak already has. – The Vibes, December 21, 2022
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