Fong also dismisses allegations that Sarawak intends to undermine Petronas, stating that such misinformation only fuels distrust and hampers Malaysia and Sarawak’s prosperity.
KUCHING (Feb 15): The continued spread of false narratives claiming that “Sarawak is arrogant” or seeks to be a “state within a state” is detrimental to national unity and progress, said state legal counsel Dato Sri JC Fong.
He also dismissed allegations that Sarawak intends to undermine Petronas, stating that such misinformation only fuels distrust and hampers Malaysia and Sarawak’s prosperity.
“Such false narratives would sow the seeds of frustration, anger and cause distrust amongst Sarawakians towards other Malaysians.
“Sarawakians love Malaysia as they love their beloved Bumi Kenyalang. They want to help in building prosperous, harmonious, peaceful and united Malaysia,” the former Sarawak attorney-general said in a statement today.
As such, Fong urged the federal government to respect and uphold Sarawak’s special rights and status within Malaysia, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Then we will have a Malaysia that is prosperous and its people united and happy,” he said.
Fong also shared his “Anak Sarawak” perspective in response to constitutional expert Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi’s presentation at a recent forum in Subang Jaya.
He acknowledged that Sarawak has legitimate grievances, as highlighted by Prof Shad, and stressed that these issues must be addressed sincerely for the sake of national unity.
With its strong racial harmony, political stability, and progressive development strategies, Fong said Sarawak is on a path toward greater prosperity.
“A prosperous Sarawak will provide a solid platform for the building of a prosperous Malaysia. To enable Sarawak and Malaysia to prosper, we need to make full use of our oil and gas resources to develop the nation.
“The export of 94 per cent of the gas produced in Sarawak to Japan and Korea in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is not sustainable utilisation of these depleting resources, and deprives our industries and investors of the use of these gas to support their growth.
“More importantly, retaining more of our natural gas for local use, will facilitate the implementation of the Sarawak Gas Roadmap,” he said.
He also said Sarawak would use these gas for power generation and transmit electricity to Peninsular Malaysia where the gas reserves could be fully depleted by 2032.
“Sarawak wants to help Semenanjung (Peninsular) Malaysia through a better utilisation of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources rather than to export LNG to benefit and grow industries in Japan and Korea.
“We want Petronas to change its business model to work with Sarawak to build a prosperous and vibrant Malaysia,” he added.
Fong also reiterated that Sarawak agreed to form Malaysia in 1963 with the expectation of development and progress.
“The Sarawakians’ aspirations could not be realised if the federal government does not honour the MA63 on issues like providing adequate revenues as agreed or taking away the state’s rights to property and assets like petroleum, and thus resulting in inhibiting Sarawak’s economic and development progress,” he stressed.
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