KOTA KINABALU – Kadazandusun groups are seeking RM329 million in “sogit” from national oil company Petronas for allegedly causing climate and ecological damages for 47 years from its oil and gas activities in Sabah.
They are Dayak International Justice Council, Bobolian Organisation Sabah, Initiator of Asian School of Wisdom, Dayak International Organisation New York, Moningolig Pogun Sabah, Dayak Ritual Authentic Fellowship, Pertubuhan Bobolian Sabah, and Dayak International Justice Council Indonesia.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, the coalition claimed Petronas must pay RM7 million in traditional compensation for each year the oil firm had been operational since its establishment in 1974.
The group said Petronas must pay RM1 million each for seven ecological components that have been affected – global warming, climate crisis, Mother Earth, nature, and ecological damages and degradation.
Roughly, the group is seeking RM329 million for the 47 years of environmental problems affecting the indigenous communities of Sabah.
“Petronas, by the nature of its core business and related activities, is part of the contributing factors to hydrospheric and atmospheric pollution.
“We take cognisance that Petronas recorded profit after tax RM10.5 billion for the year 2020, (-78% compared to RM48.8 billion in 2019) with cash-flow-from-operation activities of RM40.7 billion and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation at RM55.3 billion.
“So, it should have no problem in settling our claim for damages of only RM7 million per year.”
It added that they have been ignored and were never consulted as stakeholders.
“We – upholding our heritage beliefs, worldviews, knowledge, and wisdom from our ancestors that within our ecological beingness – have rights as declared by the United Nations Declaration in 2007, and special constitutional privileges and protected by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but ultimately, we are the traditional owners and keepers of the island of Borneo.
“We are entitled under our native law to claim for damages to our ecological beingness in the form of ‘sogit’ in the form of combined haematic animal sacrifice and monetary compensation for the socio-spiritual ecological damages since the establishment of Petronas 47 years ago.”
The group also welcomed Petronas’ move to endorse the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative and the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and for energy to be responsibly delivered in a way that benefits the people and the world.
They added that Petronas is one of many fossil oil and gas corporations that contribute directly to the climate crisis and must be held accountable for its actions. – The Vibes, November 6, 2021
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