Source : Daily Express 15/05/2010
Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government through Petronas ought to ensure adequate supply of natural gas from the oil and gas terminal at Kimanis to generate energy, which is crucial to development in Sabah.
Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chia said that adequate supply of natural gas is crucial to ensure that the proposed development in the State could take off, not to mention development of the oil and gas downstream industries, which can generate greater employment opportunities and spur economic development.
The SAPP Wanita Chief said this in response to Plantation Industries and Commodity Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok's recent statement supporting the State Government's move to develop Kimanis and Sipitang into oil and gas towns.
Dompok said that the Federal Cabinet had instructed Petronas to give priority to Sabah if the State required the resources.
While noting that there was a guarantee that no gas will be transported to Sarawak through the Kimanis-Bintulu pipeline if there was a need (for gas) here, Dompok said, therefore, the State Government have to look at the infrastructure for the utilisation of gas.
He also revealed that the State Government had already received a written commitment from the national oil company assuring compliance.
Nonetheless, Melanie was doubtful of Petronas's assurance.
"Is Petronas truly committed to giving the natural gas we require for our development? Is the Federal Government committed to its promise to give priority to Sabah for our oil and natural gas resources requirement?" she asked.
She feared that KKIP Sdn Bhd, a State GLC, would fail if the Sabah Government, in upholding Sabah interest, is unable to assist them to solve problems related to adequate supply of natural gas for energy intensive industries.
She pointed out that State Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah had announced that KKIP Sdn Bhd needed 42 million cubic feet of natural gas daily and electricity supply of 354 MW for a proposed solar glass manufacturer.
KKIP Sdn Bhd has proposed to sign a commitment to investor, the Sun Bear Polar Sdn Bhd which wanted to build a RM5.3 billion plant to produce solar glass panels with silica sand from northern Sabah.
"The investment would fail if the State Government is unable to help to ensure adequate natural gas supply by Petronas É there must be a firm commitment by Petronas," Melanie said.
"If the State Government is not able to secure this supply commitment from Petronas, other potential investors either local or foreign would also not come to Sabah."
She said that if the proposed signing with Sun Bear Polar failed, Sabah would lose the RM5.3 billion investment which could potentially create 1,082 employment opportunities, development of supporting industries and the development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and income from land revenue, among others.
She also urged the Government to update the people on the status of the Sun Bear investment as to whether it is going ahead or not, and whether adequate natural gas is made available for Sabah industrial development, including Sun Bear.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Oil blocks deal not clearly explained: Karim
Source : Daily Express 15/05/2010
Kota Kinabalu: The Government needs to come up with a detailed explanation, particularly with a map, to show the actual location of the controversial oil blocks M and L in the South China Sea, to clear any doubt among Sabahans on the matter.
Veteran Umno politician, Datuk Karim Ghani, said this is vital if the Barisan Nasional (BN) State Government does not want to suffer the fate of the former Berjaya State Government which collapsed after Labuan was surrendered to the Federal Government.
"So that the people of Sabah know if the said oil blocks are located in Sabah or SarawakÉif in Sarawak we got nothing to say about it, but in Sabah why it was surrendered without us (the State) benefiting from it," he said.
He said what the people in Sabah know now only that firstly the ex-PM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi signed the Letter of Exchange between Malaysia and Brunei when he went to Brunei before he stepped down.
And then his predecessor Tun Mahathir Mohamad disclosed the matter in his blog, followed by the responses by SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
"I find there is a truth in what Yong and Dr Jeffrey were saying that the matter should have been brought to the State Legislative AssemblyÉbut still we also need to know in detail whether they (blocks M and L) belong to Sabah or Sarawak," said Karim, an ex-Assemblyman for Bongawan, former Senator as well as a Sabah Umno pioneer.
He said if it is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) then "it is supposed to be called a circle, instead of block, and if it is within the circle meaning it is overlapping.
"If it is overlapping then there should be a joint venture (with Sabah also)Éwhy say after 40 years we surrender it to Brunei, whilst it should be forever," he said, adding under the Constitutions the Sabah people should be consulted first.
"If this matter failed to be explained fully, Sabah people will get angry and salah-salah nanti kerajaan kena buang (the present government may be thrown out)," he said.
Karim said history has proven that the people of Sabah have the power to do so, no matter strong the ruling State Government is, like the case of Berjaya.
Chief Minister, Datuk Musa Aman, had on May 5 said Sabah has not ceded any of its territory in the Federal Government's agreement with Brunei over the 2009 demarcation of maritime boundaries.
He said the State Attorney-General Datuk Roderick Fernandez informed him that no Sabah territory was ceded under the agreement inked towards the end of Abdullah's term in office.
Yong alleged ceding of the two oil blocks was unconstitutional as it did not get the consent of the State Legislative Assembly and the Conference of Rulers.
Mahathir had claimed that the Abdullah administration had surrendered the two blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei dropping its claims on Limbang in Sarawak. But Brunei had denied they agreed to give up Limbang and Wisma Putra and Abdullah did not rebut Brunei's statement.
Abdullah, in denying Mahathir's claim, explained that the agreement had allowed Malaysia to be part of an exploration of petroleum resources from the two areas.
Kota Kinabalu: The Government needs to come up with a detailed explanation, particularly with a map, to show the actual location of the controversial oil blocks M and L in the South China Sea, to clear any doubt among Sabahans on the matter.
Veteran Umno politician, Datuk Karim Ghani, said this is vital if the Barisan Nasional (BN) State Government does not want to suffer the fate of the former Berjaya State Government which collapsed after Labuan was surrendered to the Federal Government.
"So that the people of Sabah know if the said oil blocks are located in Sabah or SarawakÉif in Sarawak we got nothing to say about it, but in Sabah why it was surrendered without us (the State) benefiting from it," he said.
He said what the people in Sabah know now only that firstly the ex-PM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi signed the Letter of Exchange between Malaysia and Brunei when he went to Brunei before he stepped down.
And then his predecessor Tun Mahathir Mohamad disclosed the matter in his blog, followed by the responses by SAPP President Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
"I find there is a truth in what Yong and Dr Jeffrey were saying that the matter should have been brought to the State Legislative AssemblyÉbut still we also need to know in detail whether they (blocks M and L) belong to Sabah or Sarawak," said Karim, an ex-Assemblyman for Bongawan, former Senator as well as a Sabah Umno pioneer.
He said if it is within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) then "it is supposed to be called a circle, instead of block, and if it is within the circle meaning it is overlapping.
"If it is overlapping then there should be a joint venture (with Sabah also)Éwhy say after 40 years we surrender it to Brunei, whilst it should be forever," he said, adding under the Constitutions the Sabah people should be consulted first.
"If this matter failed to be explained fully, Sabah people will get angry and salah-salah nanti kerajaan kena buang (the present government may be thrown out)," he said.
Karim said history has proven that the people of Sabah have the power to do so, no matter strong the ruling State Government is, like the case of Berjaya.
Chief Minister, Datuk Musa Aman, had on May 5 said Sabah has not ceded any of its territory in the Federal Government's agreement with Brunei over the 2009 demarcation of maritime boundaries.
He said the State Attorney-General Datuk Roderick Fernandez informed him that no Sabah territory was ceded under the agreement inked towards the end of Abdullah's term in office.
Yong alleged ceding of the two oil blocks was unconstitutional as it did not get the consent of the State Legislative Assembly and the Conference of Rulers.
Mahathir had claimed that the Abdullah administration had surrendered the two blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei dropping its claims on Limbang in Sarawak. But Brunei had denied they agreed to give up Limbang and Wisma Putra and Abdullah did not rebut Brunei's statement.
Abdullah, in denying Mahathir's claim, explained that the agreement had allowed Malaysia to be part of an exploration of petroleum resources from the two areas.
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