Masidi, who is the head of the state’s negotiation team, said the terms in the talks were in line with the aspirations of the people.

“I’ll walk out of the negotiation room and bang tables if I am not satisfied,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) at the state assembly today.

“Don’t worry about gas. Though I am a simple villager – a Dusun from the hills of Ranau – I will defend the rights of Sabahans.”

Shafie, who is the opposition leader, had asked about the state government’s efforts in ensuring Sabah’s oil and gas rights were returned to the state as demanded through its negotiations with Petronas.

Masidi said that as a result of the state government’s continued discussions, Petronas had agreed to develop a floating oil and gas facility at Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip) this year.

“Petronas has agreed to build this facility in Sogip without further delay. God willing, it will be carried out this year,” he said.

On an additional query from nominated assemblyman Yong Teck Lee, who questioned the secrecy of the negotiations with Petronas, Masidi explained that such a practice was common in business because of competition.

“It will be revealed to the public when the time comes,” he said. “It’s not that we do not want to tell or because there is something to hide. There is no such intention.”