He said Petronas had been taking oil and gas from Sarawak’s territorial boundary for many years, but did not have a single Sarawakian as a director on the board of the national oil company until recently.

Adenan, however, noted that Petronas, under a new management, had been cooperative with Sarawak.

“We look forward to a good working relationship with them.”

Sarawak is at present negotiating with Petronas for a greater share in the oil and gas industry.

It also wants the oil and gas giant to employ more locals at the senior and executive levels.

Adenan again threatened today not to issue work permits to non-Sarawakian senior personnel of Petronas, including directors, if it disagreed with state policy on local participation in the industry, Malay Mail Online reported.

It was reported earlier that the state was reviewing the work permits for 600 non-locals as well as fresh applications for work permits from Petronas staff.

Launching the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) in Kuching today, the news portal reported Adenan as saying he could no longer tolerate a situation where people “get our oil and gas, without any participation in the industry.”

“There is no more excuse to say that our people are not qualified.

“The oil and gas industry, through Petronas, has been in existence over the last 40 years and Sarawak Shell before that.

“So don’t tell me there are no qualified Sarawakians around.”