Sarawak Report recently claimed that Taib had a “secret interest” in the venture to explore oil in Oman, but the chief minister’s office dismissed the report as a “an attempt to smear Petros’ image for reasons only known to Sarawak Report”.
“It was merely an understanding for Petros to assist should the company intended to invest in Sarawak,” it said in a statement, adding that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the company had lapsed.
Sarawak Report had questioned the terms of the MOU between Petros and South Sea Energy, which it said had signed a financing agreement for US$150 million with Oman’s Bank Nizwa to enable investment in Oman’s massive new oil exploration Block 17.
It cited a media statement by the bank which stated that Taib and his son Mahmud Abu Bekir had been present at the signing ceremony on behalf of South Sea Energy. The report said Mahmud was the company’s executive vice-president.
Sarawak Report also dismissed Suarah Petroleum Group (SPG), made up of professionals from the state’s oil industry, as an “anonymous” group out to ensure Sarawak’s oil wealth stay in the hands of politicians linked to Taib.
In its response, SPG denied it was connected to any political party or being manipulated by others.
“We are indeed a group of oil industry professionals and not some shady ‘anonymous’ group attempting to take ‘full advantage’ of the formation of Petros, of which we are certainly not the ‘promoters’ nor are we working in collusion with anyone, as Sarawak Report slyly and somewhat obnoxiously implies,” SPG said.
“We have never attempted to hide who we are or what we stand for, that is, the return of 100% of Sarawak’s petroleum resources for the full benefit of present and future generations of Sarawakians.
It said the federal government had no right to bargain with Sarawak over the state’s petroleum resources.
“The 20% ‘royalty’ or share of profits is misleading and will ensure that the current economic imbalance between Malaya and Sarawak and Sabah will never be redressed. There is no equity or justice in such an ‘offer’.