In a statement, Abang Johari said the state government appreciated the roles of the federal government and Petronas in resolving the issues involved.
“I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the prime minister for his statement during a press conference in Abu Dhabi on the Petronas-Petros issue, which among others, clearly recognised and acknowledged Petros as the sole gas aggregator in Sarawak,” he said.
Anwar was quoted by Bernama yesterday as saying that he believed issues concerning Petronas-Petros, specifically the right to distribute gas in Sarawak, had been resolved.
He said there was no uncertainty regarding the fundamental policies surrounding the issue and emphasised that the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974) applied nationwide, a principle acknowledged by both the Sarawak government and Petros.
He also said that Putrajaya recognised that Petros was established to enable Sarawak to undertake gas exploration and distribution initiatives within the state.
Anwar clarified that the Sarawak Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 did not override the PDA 1974, the Federal Constitution, or other federal laws, and as such Petronas’s position remained unchanged.
Abang Johari today also said that the Sarawak government and Petros would work closely with Putrajaya and Petronas to ensure that Petros carried out its role without any interruption to the supply of gas to consumers, including investors.
“Such strategic collaborations will drive the efforts to make Malaysia, and Sarawak in particular, into an energy hub,” he added.
The Sarawak premier added that the cooperation would also enhance the nation’s global competitiveness in attracting investments, technological research and new industries, particularly petrochemical derivatives.
This would lead to the creation of high-paying jobs and the economic growth of the nation, he said.
On Dec 10, Abang Johari revealed that a solution had been reached over the dispute between Sarawak and Petronas regarding the oil and gas resources in and around the state, but said he could not disclose the formula pending an official announcement by the prime minister.
Over the past year, Sarawak had pressed hard for Petronas to ink a deal that would make Petros the sole gas aggregator in the state.