S’wak BN slams Mahathir over oil rights comment
As former PM, Dr Mahathir Mohamad had two-third majority to repeal the Petroleum Development Act, if he really cared about the oil royalty due to Sarawak, says SUPP.
PETALING JAYA: A senior official in the Sarawak Barisan Nasional has criticised Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his comments on the Petroleum Development Act (PDA) and the unfavourable terms it gives to the state.
Tan Kai, who is a political secretary to Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg, called out the Pakatan Harapan chairman over his reasons for not repealing the PDA in his 22-year tenure as prime minister.
“Mahathir could have easily repealed PDA if he thought that it was not fair to Sarawak, as he had a two-thirds majority all the time,” Tan said in a statement yesterday.
Mahathir, who is also PPBM chairman, had reportedly said that his hands were tied as the PDA was drafted and approved before his time as prime minister, hence he could not do anything about the oil royalty and funds to be given to Sarawak.
On another comment by Mahathir that he was willing to discuss with Sarawak and Sabah on the respective 16-point Agreement and 20-point Agreement, Tan pointed out that, in fact, it should be 18-point Agreement for Sarawak and not 16-point Agreement.
“This is basic knowledge (of knowing that it is an 18-point Agreement for Sarawak). It showed that he has never bothered about Sarawak’s autonomy. In fact, he’s insulting the intelligence of Sarawakians,” he said.
Tan, who is also Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth chief, said such ignorance shows that “Sarawakians’ fate relies solely in their own hands”.
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“We must unite and make ourselves stronger and never lay our future on Malaya parties.”