Selasa, Ogos 09, 2011

SHOULD SABAH BE GETTING 50% OIL ROYALTIES & AT LEAST A 12.5% STAKE IN PETRONAS AS A CONTRIBUTING STAKEHOLDER IN THE WEALTH OF THE PETRONAS GROUP?

BHF: Re-examine and re-think strategies on oil and gas resources

KOTA KINABALU 9th August, 2011: The recent announcement by PETRONAS of two new gas finds off Sabah is a god-sent opportunity for the present government and its leaders to revisit the much-discussed loss of Sabah’s oil and gas resources and increment of petroleum royalties, said Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF).

Its Chairman, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said given this new development, the State Government needs to re-examine and re-think its strategies on the oil and gas resources located in Sabah and its territorial waters.

“With the loss of “Blocks L and M” to Brunei without so much of a whimper from the Government and its Barisan Nasional leaders, it should not lose this new opportunity to re-negotiate on the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and on a more equitable and fairer revenue sharing formula,” he stressed.

He lamented that the current miserable 5% oil royalties has directly contributed to Sabah being the poorest State in Malaysia with 40% of all hardcore poor in Malaysia from once the second richest State after Selangor (then including Kuala Lumpur) in 1970.

He continued that the disclosure by the Chief Minister in the 2011 State Budget in November 2010 that Sabah is projected to receive RM721.7 million as oil royalties for 2011 (which is expected to be much higher given the current global crude oil prices), pales in comparison to the RM13.7 billion that will be received by PETRONAS. RM721.7 million is small change for total revenue of RM14.42 billion.

The Chief Minister in January 2011 also disclosed that Sabah now produces 26.9% of Malaysia’s daily crude oil production.

“Together with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) in current production including the wells off the island of Labuan and the existing LNG fields that are to be tapped and then piped to Bintulu via the new Kimanis-Bintulu Pipeline, the new gas find of 550 billion standard cu ft with an estimated daily production rate of 21 million standard cu ft as well rumours of new oil-fields off Sandakan and Kudat and the much touted “find of the century” somewhere off the coasts of Sabah, oil and gas is here to stay and could play a very crucial and integral part of Sabah’s economy and future.

“Sabah BN leaders should stop paying lip service and for once seriously consider the interests of the State and the plight of the poor citizens. Some leaders have even gone on record to raise concerns on the oil royalties and PETRONAS projects in Sabah only to shut up once their “associates” are awarded lucrative PETRONAS contracts.

“The time is up for these leaders and for patriotic leaders to rise and demand for the rights of Sabah and its people to be the paramount criteria especially for the sake of the future generations of Sabahans,” stressed Dr Jeffrey in a statement yesterday.

He also expressed regret over the imminent siphoning of Sabah gas all the way to Bintulu, Sarawak via the Kimanis-Bintulu Pipeline.

He contended that the costs of the new production facility and the Pipeline costs could have been spent on a new facility in Sabah to process Sabah’s LNG rather than being sent 533 km. overland to Bintulu.

“With the Pipeline, Sabah has lost all the spin-offs that could be generated if the production facility was housed in Kimanis, Sabah,” he lamented.

Dr Jeffrey claimed that information from reliable sources close to PETRONAS revealed that PETRONAS is building another four platforms off Kimanis with a budget of RM8.0 billion.

He thus reiterated that together with the new gas find, there is no excuse for Sabah not to develop its own oil and gas industry locally.

He also claimed to have met international oil and gas corporations who are prepared to invest in Sabah if Sabah develops its oil and gas industry, and that if the State Government is unable to do it,BHF is prepared to spearhead the development of the oil and gas industry in Sabah.

“In fact, BHF has received calls from various sources to urge the State Government to step down for failing to look after the interests of Sabah vis-à-vis the oil and gas resources in Sabah and failing even to safeguard the interests of Sabah contractors in the construction of the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis,” he further claimed.

He also lamented that while PETRONAS has previously indicated that the total expenditure in PETRONAS projects in Sabah is expected to be in the region of RM36 billion, so far Sabah contractors have only been awarded less than 3% and to top it all the SOGT contract is being awarded to a Sarawak company.

“If the State Government is to continue with its lackadaisical approach, Sabah’s economy and its people will remain the poorest in Malaysia,” he warned.

Dr. Jeffrey who is also Chairman of the United Borneo Front (UBF) thus contended that there is no point in the State government claiming to be in coalition with the Federal Government and having good relationship with the Federal Government when it cannot even secure a better and fairer revenue sharing with PETRONASand to look after the interests of Sabah.

He further contended that Sabah should be getting 50% oil royalties and at least a 12.5% stake in PETRONAS as a contributing stakeholder in the wealth of the PETRONAS Group and similarly Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan should each have a 12.5% stake in PETRONAS being the oil-producing States, with the balance 50% in PETRONAS to be divided between the Federal Government and the non-oil producing States.

He added that if this was the case, the people of Sabah will be as rich as their counterparts in Brunei.

“With a population of 407,045 (2010) Brunei has a 2009 GDP ofUSD10.732 billion and a per capita GNP of USD26,340 while Sabah has a per capita GNP of USD4,943 (RM14,830) for 2009.

“If Sabah gets a 50% oil royalties of RM7.213 billion for 2011 based on the figures as projected by the Chief Minister, Sabah will enjoy a quantum leap in its economy and per capita income since the 2011 State Budget had projected a revenue of RM2.748 billion with an expenditure of RM3.069 billion. If Sabah had kept its oil and gas resources, the State will get the full RM14.426 billion for 2011 and Sabahans will be in the same boat as rich Brunei,” he explained.

“May be Sabah will be better off like Brunei with replacement leaders who are prepared to fight for the rights of Sabah and obtain its fair share of the oil royalties,” he added.

41 ulasan:

  1. Agree, definitely agree. Hope that our Sabah leaders will help fight for 50% royalties and stakes in Petronas.

    BalasPadam
  2. We need leaders who are willing to stand up and help fight to get back what belongs to us. Don't just talk but take no actions.

    BalasPadam
  3. Petronas perlu memberikan lebih lagi manfaat kepada Sabah..

    BalasPadam
  4. selain itu, diharap petronas juga sentiasa membantu membangunkan negeri Sabah kerana mereka juga mendapat menfaat daripada hasil minyak di Sabah...

    BalasPadam
  5. Sabah harus mendapat lebih dari hasil Petronas.

    BalasPadam
  6. support to 50% royalty.

    BalasPadam
  7. setuju jika royalti dinaikkan. Spatutnya hasil bumi Sabah lebih dinikmati oleh Sabah.

    BalasPadam
  8. Sudah sekian lama Sabah tetap menikmati 5% royalties. Berapa besar la sangat tu, macam tahi mata saja besar.

    BalasPadam
  9. jika royalti dinaikkan hingga 50% saya pasti banyak pembangunan yang dapat dibuat di Sabah dan kadar kemiskinan juga pasti dapat diatasi.

    BalasPadam
  10. tapi masalahnya bila Akta Petroleum tersebut akan disemak semula?

    BalasPadam
  11. Setuju dengan Anna. Pemimpin Sabah juga harus berusaha untuk menuntut kenaikan royalti minyak. Sabah perlukan lebih banyak dana untuk membangunkan negeri ini.

    BalasPadam
  12. Petronas harus memberi kuota 70% pekerja nya adalah Sabahan.

    BalasPadam
  13. Selain itu Tajaan biasiswa oleh Patronas juga harus diberi lebih banyak kepada pelajar Sabah....

    BalasPadam
  14. Will this suggestion turns into reality?

    BalasPadam
  15. 50% Royalty?? Need to doing discussion for this royalty.

    BalasPadam
  16. Akta tersebut perlu dikemaskini. Pemimpin2 Sabah pun perlu memperjuangkan isu ini. Banyak manfaat yang boleh diperuntukan daripda hasil minyak Sabah.

    BalasPadam
  17. Macamana Sabah, sebuah negeri yang kaya dari segi sumber galian dan alam semulajadi, menjadi negeri yang termiskin di Malaysia?

    BalasPadam
  18. Pemimpin BN Sabah harus menyuara dalam mempertahankan dan mempertingkatkan permintaan terhadap hak-hak Sabah.

    BalasPadam
  19. ya, kerajaan negeri Sabah harus memainkan peranannya untuk bersuara bagi pihak rakyat demi kebaikan masa depan Sabah.

    BalasPadam
  20. Jika kerajaan negeri terus dengan sikap malas untuk mempertahankan hak orang Sabah, ekonomi Sabah dan rakyatnya akan kekal termiskin di Malaysia.

    BalasPadam
  21. sudah tiba masanya Sabah diberi penghormatan untuk mendapat royalti minyak yang lebih tinggi kerana sumber-sumber minyak dan gas yang terletak di Sabah dan perairannya.

    BalasPadam
  22. Yes, we lost our blocks..now we can't offer to lose another opportunity. Hope they will give us what we deserve, our rights!!

    BalasPadam
  23. 50% oil royalty..not bad for sabah..its fairness than 5%..

    BalasPadam
  24. the state should take this opportunity to urges the federal govt to review the petroleum development act 1974.

    BalasPadam
  25. pemimpin sabah khasnya harus berusaha agar sabah mendapat haknya..

    BalasPadam
  26. sudah tiba masanya akta petroleum tersebut dikaji semula..jika kerajaan persekutuan tetap menolak atau tidak melayan tuntutan ini, dikhuatiri rakyat sabah tidak akan menyokong kerajaan pada PRU akan datang.

    BalasPadam
  27. YES, we should be getting what we deserve. Sabah needs alot of help here, don't be stingy....

    BalasPadam
  28. Memang patut dinaikkan pun. Sekarang semua pun naik, jadi royalti pun sepatutnya dinaikkan juga. hehe

    BalasPadam
  29. Kerjasama dan persefahaman daripada semua pihak harus ada barulah hal ini dapat dicapai dengan sempurna.

    BalasPadam
  30. Lakukanlah perbincangan untuk mendapatkan win-win situation untuk pembahagian royalty ini.

    BalasPadam
  31. We have been saying this for so many damn times. Yet, are we?

    BalasPadam
  32. setuju tu memang la setuju, tapi bukan mudah melakukan perubahan terutamanya yang melibatkan akta. mungkin lebih baik jika Petronas melakukan lebih banyak social responsibility di negeri ini dan meluaskan lagi pelaburannya bagi tujuan membangunkan negeri ini.

    BalasPadam
  33. Kalau ada 50% royalty, bagus juga untuk pembangunan Sabah. Ini cuma impian yang tidak tercapai rasanya. Semoga ada perubahan di masa akan datang.

    BalasPadam
  34. Setuju dengan kata Villager.. Perubahan akta amat payah, melainkan jika Petronas menghulur tangan untuk pembangunan negeri Sabah. Rasa ramai rakyat mendapat menfaat dari segi peluang pekerjaan, kempen membasmi kemiskinan dll..

    BalasPadam
  35. Betul kata Bosan, sudah tiba masanya akta petroleum tersebut dikaji semula untuk kebaikan lebih sempurna i.e. Kerajaan vs rakyat Sabah

    BalasPadam
  36. Jika kerajaan Sabah memainkan peranannya untuk menuntut jumlah royalty yang berpatutan untuk pembangunan di masa akan datang. Harap hasrat kami tercapai.

    BalasPadam
  37. Kami bukan berharapkan royalty yang terlampau cuma yang berpatutan. Jangan pula hanya bincang, bawa lar hasrat ini menjadi satu reality.

    BalasPadam
  38. Do Petronas really care?

    BalasPadam
  39. Memang mengecewakan apabila kita menyumbangkan sesuatu tapi tidak tidak diterima dengan baik.

    BalasPadam
  40. Namun banyak pelajar diberi peluang untuk bekerja dengan Petronas.

    BalasPadam