The Prime Minister and Chief Minister have failed to deliver their promises in 2014 to “give” Sabah 10 per cent of the Petronas LNG9 (PL9SB) Sdn Bhd shares, the Petronas subsidiary company to operate the Liquefied Natural Gas Train 9 in Bintulu, Sarawak.
DAP Sabah and the people demanded that Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman explain the reason why Sabah has never acquire the 10 per cent share in PL9SB until now.
It has been three years after Musa made the announcement in the State Assembly in July 2014, it is quite impossible that we need three years to complete this transaction.
One month after he spoke about it in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister in a statement made the official announcement stating that Petronas has agreed to give Sabah greater participation by increasing the State’s stake to 10 per cent. (http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2014/08/20/petronas-gives-sabah-10-pct-stake-in-lng-9/)
In November 2014, Najib in his visit to Sabah was reported as saying that apart from the oil and gas royalty of 5 percent, Sabah was also given a 10 per cent stake in PL9SB in Bintulu, Sarawak, which would generate an additional revenue to the state and its people. (http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1227950)
However, a search with the Malaysia Companies Commission (SSM) showed that Sabah has no share in PL9SB.
So, Musa should explain it to the public, or else he was misleading the State Assembly.
Petronas should also explain the reason for its shares to be disposed to foreign companies but not to Sabah and Sarawak governments.
It was reported on July 28 that Petronas has disposed of a 10 per cent stake in PL9SB for US$500mil (RM2.14bil) to Thailand’s national company and partner.
PL9SB owns the ninth liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction train and other related associated facilities located in the Petronas LNG complex in Bintulu, Sarawak, with a production capacity of 3.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG, which started commercial operations on Jan 1, 2017.
Other stakeholders in PL9SB include JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, a unit of Japan’s biggest oil refiner JX Holdings.
If this was the case then the “non-existence” of the 10 per cent share has shown that BN led Federal Government and its giant oil and gas GLC Petronas is not willing to share the black gold wealth with Sabah.
We need to find out who is the liar here. Petronas regretted to give us the 10 per cent share? Or Najib or Musa failed to demand?
It was unnecessary for Musa to use this 10 per cent share story to justify his non- commitment to the demand for the 20 per cent oil royalty.
If Sabah can’t even get the share in a GLC as promised, it indicates that the 20 per cent oil royalty issue would be a forever an unfulfilled dream.
Sabahan BN leaders are advised to refrain from making fellow Sabahan as fool to believe in UMNO’s lie.
If Pakatan Harapan took over the Federal government, we would keep our promise to increase oil royalty to 20 per cent, as pledged in our manifesto.
A written question has been submitted before the State Assembly sitting convene next week, pertaining the revenue earned by State Government in the PL9SB.
We as Sabahan has the right to know the truth.