Petronas said last week it is mapping the hydrocarbon potential of the Langkasuka Basin, which covers the waters of Perlis, Kedah and Penang.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow told the state assembly today he was excited to hear about the latest development.

Despite the state’s growth and prosperity, he said, the state government remains financially constrained, relying mainly on land-related taxes.

“I am praying that this new source of revenue will be a boon for all the three northern states. For a long time, these states have been ignored by the federal government,” he said.

“So, to the state legal adviser, please start working to garner at least RM4 billion in petroleum product taxes. This is separate from royalties.

Chow said Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg seemed to be in a jovial mood when he met him recently, adding that it might have been due to the revenue collected from sales tax on petroleum products.

In June, it was reported that Petronas and its subsidiaries had paid the Sarawak government RM1.2 billion in sales tax on petroleum products for the first quarter of 2023.

“Now you know why when they (Sarawak officials) walk, there is an air about them. (Their chief minister) is now ‘premier’,” Chow said.

“Perhaps when we get such oil money, the chiefs of all the northern states would be premiers, too,” he said to laughter from the assembly members.