Fadillah said he did not understand the rationale behind the proposal by Sarawak DAP Youth for the establishment of such a committee,whether it was “genuine or merely political manoeuvring”.

“They have been more inclined to criticise GPS despite this being our fight all along. There is no need for a committee. Instead, what we need is strong support in Parliament,” he told reporters after an event in Kota Samarahan last night, TV Sarawak reported.

Fadillah said the proposal suggests a lack of confidence in the existing bodies, namely the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) implementation action council and the technical committee established under the council.

He said the council and its committee were already sufficient, with nine demands successfully resolved so far.

On Wednesday, Sarawak DAP Youth proposed that a bipartisan committee be established to strengthen the state’s position in negotiations with the federal government over its oil and gas rights.

The wing’s political education bureau chief Jordan Soo said the proposal had been submitted to Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg’s office.

In response, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth called the proposal by its DAP counterpart redundant.

The wing’s secretary, Azizul Annuar Adenan, was reported to have said that there was no need for such a committee as negotiations between the state and the federal governments were progressing well.