CM mum over Petronas meeting

October 15, 2018

Dateline 2018-07-25, Borneo Post:

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has revealed that Petronas met him after it failed to get the application for leave from the Federal Court.

He, however, declined to reveal what was discussed during the meeting.

“Yes, they did come to see me recently, after the Federal Court’s decision, but I cannot reveal what was discussed during the meeting.

“Of course, we discussed some of the win-win-proposals together. We are not that greedy.

“Okay that is our right. Petronas wants to take and sell the oil, which is our right, so they have to negotiate with us,” he told a press conference after launching the Land and Survey Department’s Innovation and Integrity Day here yesterday.

 


PH has urged Sarawak government to amend PDA

July 14, 2018

Dateline 2018-06-06, NST:

Sarawak Pakatan Harapan has urged the state government to amend the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA).

Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said if this was not done, the ownership and control of oil and gas industry in Sarawak would remain with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

He said the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg had refused to do so and insisted that PDA was irrelevant in Sarawak.

“He (Abang Johari) has been saying the PDA is irrelevant and claimed that the state has the full regulatory authority over the upstream and downstream aspects of the oil and gas industry, with the establishment of the Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros).

 


Oil and gas firms must follow state laws from July 1, says Abang Jo

June 29, 2018

Dateline 2018-05-16, FMT:

 Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg says with effect from July 1, 2018, oil and gas (O&G) industry players must abide by state laws such as the Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) 1958 and Gas Distribution Ordinance (GDO) 2016.

He said the state will continue to cooperate with the federal government and Petronas to ensure the local O&G industry continues to flourish and contributes to the country’s economic growth.

“We will update the federal government and its agencies on the steps taken to regulate the O&G industry in accordance with state laws.

 


O&G industry under state law

June 15, 2018

This may be a historical note, maybe not.

Dateline 2018-04-20, Borneo Post:

Actions and penalties will be taken against any person or company including its contractors, sub-contractors and vendors operating in Sarawak without licences issued by the state government when the new regulatory framework over the oil and gas industry comes into force effective this July 1.

In order to ensure an orderly implementation of these new policies by the state government, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said an engagement with all industry players including Petronas will be held in the middle of next month (May).

“This is to inform them (industry players) about the state’s new regulatory framework over the upstream and downstream aspects of the oil and gas industry in Sarawak,” he told a press conference after witnessing the signing of a land lease agreement for the development of an integrated supply base at Bintulu Port in a leading hotel here yesterday.


BPA, Bintulu Supply Base sign land lease agreement

June 14, 2018

Dateline 2018-04-19, Borneo Post:

Sarawak’s oil and gas industry achieved another milestone today with the signing of the land lease agreement for the development of an integrated supply base at the Second Inner Harbour, Bintulu Port.

The supply base will cater to the needs of the oil and gas industry offshore East Malaysia, and is targeted for start of commercial operations by the fourth quarter of 2019.

The signing of the land lease agreement between Bintulu Port Authority (BPA) and Bintulu Supply Base Sdn Bhd was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

BPA was represented by its chairman Hadzari Abang and general manager Zulkurnain Ayub while Bintulu Supply Base was represented by its chairman Ahmadi Yusoff and director Datuk Ahmad Redza Abdullah.

Abang Johari pointed out that this new integrated supply base at Bintulu Port, will become a one-stop centralised logistic support centre to service the needs of oil and gas exploration, development and production activities in off shore areas of Sarawak.

 


Sarawak oil and gas rights pure political rhetoric, says Jeffrey

May 13, 2018

Dateline 2018-03-10, FMT:

While the Sarawak government should be lauded for re-asserting statutory regulatory control over its oil and gas resources, Sarawakians ought to be wary and fully understand the implications of the recent announcement, says Jeffrey Kitingan.

The president of Sabah opposition party, Star, said in a statement today that he agreed with Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg on the constitutional right of the Borneo states over its natural resources, including oil and gas, as per the State List in the 9th Schedule of the federal constitution.

“Land is clearly a state matter and the development of these resources by the federation under item 8(j) of the Federal List is subject to Item 2(c) of the State List.

“Under Section 24 of the Sabah Land Ordinance (Cap. 68), all minerals, precious stones and mineral oils which includes petroleum and gas belongs to the Sabah government,” the Bingkor assemblyman said.

 


DAP: Sarawak must bring 2 Acts on oil and gas rights to court

May 12, 2018

Dateline 2018-03-10, FMT:

A Sarawak DAP leader says the only way for Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg to redeem himself following his claim that the Petroleum Development Act 1976 (PDA) and the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA) are null and void is by taking the issue to court.

Irene Mary Chang, who is Sarawak DAP director of women’s affairs’ bureau, said it was wrong of Johari to say that these two laws are not applicable in Sarawak anymore following his announcement on Tuesday that the state would assume full regulatory authority over the upstream and downstream aspects of the oil and gas industry in Sarawak.

“To declare these two legislations as null and void and therefore have no application in Sarawak, the CM has to first bring the matter before the Courts of Law for such a declaration.

“And until the Courts declare as such, the acts are in force and are applicable in Sarawak. To say otherwise is to give people false hope and the state government owes it to the people to set the matter right,” she said.


Sarawak’s claim on oil resources could change sector’s dynamics

May 6, 2018

Dateline 2018-03-08,  The Malaysian Reserve:

The Sarawak government’s announcement that it is taking full regulatory control over its oil and gas (O&G) resources could change the dynamics of the sector which has been for more than four decades regulated under one law.

The Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) gave the exclusive rights of exploring, exploiting, winning and obtaining petroleum, whether onshore or offshore in Malaysia, to state-owned oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

Resource-rich Sarawak announced it would assume full regulatory authority over the O&G industry upstream and downstream activities in the state by July this year.

The announcement was made by Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg when he launched Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) in Kuching on Tuesday.

Abang Johari was reported as saying that anyone and companies involved in the O&G industry in the state must have the necessary licences, permits, leases and approvals required either under the state’s Oil Mining Ordinance, or the Gas Distribution Ordinance.


Sarawak gains full control over state’s oil and gas sector as Malaysia election nears

May 1, 2018

Dateline 2018-03-07, The Straits Times:

Sarawak announced yesterday that it now has complete mining rights over its territory, making it the first state in Malaysia to form a state-owned oil and gas company.

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said the formation of Petros, which was founded last year, was part of the promise made by the federal government to return eroded rights from the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), signed when the giant state agreed to become part of Malaysia.

“This gives Sarawak full regulatory authority of the upstream, downstream aspects of the oil and gas industry,” said Datuk Abang Johari at an event to launch Petros in the Sarawak capital of Kuching.


Sarawak CM hints of plans to claim more oil, gas revenue

March 23, 2018

Dateline 2018-02-09, The Malaysian Insight:

CHIEF Minister Abang Johari Openg has given another hint that Sarawak will muscle in to claim more revenue from oil and gas for its coffers.

“I already have ideas (on generating more income), but I cannot reveal them today,” said Abang Johari, who is also president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the second-largest party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, when jointly opening the PBB Women and Youth wings’ triennial delegates’ conference in Kuching today.