The Federal Constitution, the MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak said, must be read as a whole and not treated like a “menu”, where favourable clauses are chosen for political convenience, the Dayak Daily reported.
MPs, they argued, could not cite Item 8(j) of the Federal List to justify full federal control over oil and gas while ignoring Item 2(c) of the State List, which grants the state the authority over licences and permits.
Both clauses are interconnected, they said.
“Let us not interpret the constitution selectively. Let us defend it in its entirety with honesty, understanding, and respect for the founding spirit of this nation,” the GPS MPs said in a statement.
The MPs were responding to Pakatan Harapan MP for Pasir Gudang, Hassan Karim, who said the ongoing dispute over Sarawak’s oil and gas rights could undermine Petronas’s position as the national oil company.
The GPS MPs said Sarawak has no intention of undermining or destroying Petronas but sought cooperation built on mutual respect to develop the oil and gas industry to benefit both the state and Malaysia.
“Petros is not a competitor to Petronas but a strategic partner, ensuring that operations in Sarawak are conducted sustainably, transparently, and for the benefit of the people without compromising national interests.”
The Sarawakian MPs also said that the issue between Petronas and Petros should not be viewed as a “family quarrel”, but rather a matter of law and constitutional authority.
Petronas and Sarawak-controlled Petros have been at odds over the role of gas aggregator in the state. The two companies are also embroiled in various legal disputes.
Sarawak is challenging Petronas’s hold over Malaysia’s oil and gas reserves, as stipulated in the Petroleum Development Act 1974, which gives the national oil and gas company control of the country’s hydrocarbon reserves.
The state holds about 60% of Malaysia’s gas reserves and accounts for 90% of the country’s liquefied natural gas exports.
In May, the federal and Sarawak governments signed a joint declaration on gas distribution in the state.