KOTA KINABALU: Putrajaya’s decision to transfer the regulatory power for gas supply to Sabah is a step forward towards realising the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Chief Minister said this in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on Wednesday (Dec 21) that the transfer of power would be implemented after getting the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In a statement welcoming the decision on Wednesday (Dec 21), Hajiji said this had always been the aspiration of Sabah and its people.
“The state government has been steadfast in our pursuit to take control of and manage the state’s oil and gas resources,” he said, adding that he had raised the need to fulfill the MA63 during his first meeting with Anwar.
After the King gives his consent, the Sabah state assembly is expected to convene a special sitting to approve and gazette the Sabah State Bill for gas supply, where the Energy Commission of Sabah will take over all regulatory power for onshore gas supply (regasification, transmission, distribution, use of gas by private licensees and retail) in the state with immediate effect.
Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also lauded the move, and said he hoped it would pave the way for the implementation of the rest of MA63.
“Warisan is thankful for the Prime Minister’s attentiveness to the dreams, aspirations and wishes of Sabah folk,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Hopefully this good news will be followed by the implementation of the 21 matters presented by the Sabah and Sarawak governments during the Cabinet special committee meeting to review MA63 during the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.
“As of now, 17 out of the 21 issues have been agreed on between the previous Pakatan government and both state governments.
“This leaves four outstanding matters – oil royalties and petroleum cash payments; oil minerals and oil fields; Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750); and state rights over the continental shelf,” said Mohd Shafie.