KOTA KINABALU – The unity government is well on its way to returning Sabah’s rights and has shown readiness to do so, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announcing that Petronas would hand over regulatory power of Sabah’s gas supply to the state is one of the matters that Sabah leaders have fought for over the years.
“It was also what our former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili had fought for when he was still in the cabinet,” he said when met by reporters at PBS Christmas celebration here today.
Hajiji said that a special state assembly sittings will be held on January 10 to gazette the Sabah state bill for gas supply.
Sabah must first enact legislation for the devolution of powers to legally take effect.
The Sabah government first has to set up its own Energy Commission so that the supply regulatory authority can be transferred from the federal government to Sabah to enable Sabah to take control and have power for onshore gas supply – including re-gasification, transmission, distribution, use of gas by private licensees and retail – in the state.
Earlier this week, Hajiji said that after the bill is enacted, the Sabah Energy Commission would be able to take over all regulatory power for onshore gas supply in the state with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, Ongkili, who is also PBS president, congratulated Hajiji on the development and thanked Anwar for making it happen.
Ongkili, who was a member of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Special Council, said Hajiji and the committee had been pushing for the matter during the previous administration but were told that it would require time as it involved complicated legal matters that must first be amended.
“I thank the prime minister for taking such quick action. I am confident that this is a good sign that other outstanding matters such as the 40% revenue entitlement (special grant) and the outstanding backlog (special grant payment) matter will also be solved in the near time,” he said.
Ongkili added that the matter has been discussed repeatedly during the past government, and it was only a matter of implementation.
“I hope for better things to come in the coming years to meet promises to Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.
Last Wednesday, Anwar announced that the authority to supervise decisions and activities related to gas sourced from Sabah will be devolved to the state.
However, Anwar stressed that some MA63 issues will remain unresolved for a longer period. These include legal matters that would be eventually resolved when Parliament reconvenes. – The Vibes, December 25, 2022
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