Former top state oil official disputes Masidi's claims on SMJ Energy's role
Former Sabah Oil & Gas Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (SOGDC) chief executive officer Abdul Kadir Abdullah Damsal said it was inaccurate to suggest that Sabah's oil and gas industry only began to evolve with the establishment of SMJ Energy (SMJE) in 2021.
He highlighted that several government-linked companies (GLCs), including Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), Sabah International Petroleum (SIP), Yayasan Sabah subsidiaries and SOGDC itself, were actively involved in the sector well before SMJE was formed.
Abdul Kadir, who is also a practising lawyer, credited past progress to the previous Barisan Nasional government, saying that PETRONAS launched the Sabah Integrated Oil and Gas Project (SIOGP) in 2014 during a time of political stability, with investments totalling nearly RM54bil.
'These projects laid the foundation for Sabah's current oil and gas infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs and supporting local engineering and service firms,' he said in a statement on Saturday (July 12).
He also mentioned the establishment of the Joint Working Committee between Sabah and PETRONAS, which he said led to more gas being allocated to the state and efforts to build local capacity, such as appointing a Sabahan as the chief executive officer of the PETRONAS' SAMUR plant.
'Contrary to recent claims, the industry was not dormant before SMJE. Sabahans have long played important roles in oil and gas operations, without needing to apply political pressure to so-called 'Sabahan entities' like SAMUR,' he added.
Abdul Kadir further questioned recent statements that Sabah-based oil and gas firms received RM2bil worth of PETRONAS contracts in 2024.
He said this figure could be misleading without a proper breakdown and called for clarity on how much was actually awarded to locally owned Sabah firms.
On SMJE's reported RM362mil profit in 2024, he claimed this was a group figure, and not solely due to SMJE's upstream involvement in Samarang.
Instead, he said much of the profit came from SIP's 10% equity in LNG Train 9 in Bintulu, a deal initiated under the Barisan administration and signed during Parti Warisan's time in power.
He also said that other state-owned companies such as Suria Capital, Sawit Kinabalu and Qhazanah Sabah have long operated as billion-ringgit asset-backed firms, and urged that SMJE's growth not be portrayed as a standalone success story.
Abdul Kadir also called on the state government to provide a more accurate narrative to the public.
'Sabahans deserve the truth, not exaggerated claims or selective retelling of the state's economic development,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah's oil and gas gains built on reforms, not rhetoric — Dr Roland
Dr Roland KOTA KINABALU (July 13): The Sabah government's progress in the oil and gas sector is grounded in facts and meaningful reforms, not political rhetoric, said Datuk Dr Roland Chia, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister. Responding to recent remarks by former Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC) CEO Abdul Kadir Abdullah Damsal, Dr Roland said the statement distorted reality and overlooked a prolonged period of stagnation under the latter's leadership. 'The recent statement by former SOGDC CEO misrepresents the facts and conveniently glosses over a time of inertia during his own tenure,' said Dr Roland in a statement on Sunday. 'Let's be clear: Sabah International Petroleum (SIP) was in financial distress before it was restructured by the current government. The GRS administration's intervention wasn't just symbolic — it was critical for safeguarding Sabah's financial position and reclaiming control over key energy assets,' he said. Dr Roland noted that SMJ Energy (SMJE) was established to address past structural failures, consolidate state energy interests, enter direct upstream participation, and deliver tangible benefits to the people. 'Under the present administration, the Sipitang Oil & Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) has gained investor confidence, with Esteel Enterprise Sdn Bhd's RM31 billion investment being a standout example,' he said. He added that the results following the signing of the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) speak volumes. 'SMJE now holds equity in major oil and gas blocks. Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC) has secured onshore gas distribution rights — a historic milestone. In 2024 alone, RM2 billion in contracts were awarded to Sabah-based companies, many of which are now expanding operations beyond the state,' he said. 'These are not just numbers — they represent real jobs and real economic growth for Sabahans,' Dr Roland stressed. Acknowledging Sabah's longstanding contribution to Malaysia's oil and gas industry, he said the current administration has brought genuine institutional empowerment to the state. 'SMJE and SEC are no longer passive entities. They are now key players, with Sabahans taking the lead — not by chance, but through strategic state action,' he said. Addressing claims surrounding State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun's remarks in the State Assembly, Dr Roland clarified that they were made in direct response to a question by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal regarding SMJE's non-participation in an East Coast exploratory bid. 'To twist that context into a personal attack is not only misleading but a deliberate attempt to politicise a factual explanation,' he said. He urged all parties to stay focused on the real, measurable progress made under the GRS government rather than engage in distortions that undermine public trust.
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Anifah backs Hajiji's move for GRS consensus on assembly dissolution
Anifah KOTA KINABALU (July 13): Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Senator Tan Sri Anifah Aman has expressed full support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor's decision to consult the presidents of all Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties before making any move to dissolve the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. In a statement on Sunday, Anifah described Hajiji's approach as a 'wise move' that reflects respect for the voices of the grassroots. 'I welcome the statement made by Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji on wanting to consult the presidents of GRS component parties before deciding on the dissolution of the Sabah Legislative Assembly,' said Anifah. 'This is a wise move by the Chief Minister in choosing to make a collective decision. The component parties represent the voices of the Sabahan grassroots, and it is important that the GRS leadership takes these voices into account before making any decision to dissolve the State Assembly,' he added. Anifah acknowledged that PCS, as the youngest and smallest party in the coalition, may not carry the same weight as the larger parties but stressed that it brings forward strong ideas and aspirations for the people of Sabah. 'As the youngest party in the coalition, we may be small, but that does not mean we lack big ideas,' he said. 'I assure my party members and supporters that I will bring your voices and suggestions to the GRS Supreme Council and ensure they are heard by the Right Honourable Chief Minister.' As Sabah draws closer to its next state election, Anifah reiterated PCS's unwavering support for Hajiji and the GRS coalition. 'As we approach the elections, I pledge my full support to the leadership of Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor and the GRS coalition,' he said. 'Whatever decision is made, we must ensure that GRS continues to form the backbone of the Sabah State Government and deliver on the aspirations of the people,' Anifah stressed.
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
PN's rejection clarifies political landscape - Armizan
Armizan (left) speaking to the media at the closing of Consumer Festival 2025 at ITCC Penampang on Sunday.-Bernama photo PENAMPANG (July 13): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) views Perikatan Nasional's (PN) rejection of cooperation with the state coalition as a blessing in disguise, said its deputy secretary-general, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Festival Kepenggunaan 2025 (CONFEST 2025) here on Sunday, Armizan said PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's recent remarks only serve to clarify the true political landscape. 'My personal opinion is that with PN's statement rejecting cooperation with GRS, we should actually be thankful to Tan Sri Muhyiddin because he has made things easier for us,' said Armizan. 'Firstly, without us needing to explain, he has directly shown the reality — that there was never any proposal for cooperation between both sides.' He added that the clear stance saves GRS from having to issue its own rejection. 'This makes things easier for us because GRS does not have to issue a statement rejecting cooperation with certain parties. Otherwise, we might appear arrogant and conceited. Let others speak — we welcome it,' he said. Muhyiddin on Saturday stated that PN refuses to cooperate with GRS, which he accused of betraying the coalition after forming the state government without PN. He said PN is instead open to working with other parties ahead of the upcoming Sabah state election. 'It's very difficult to work with GRS because that party has denied us. Would you want to work with them if you were in my position?' said Muhyiddin, who also claimed that the GRS name was his idea during the coalition's early days. He added that PN is currently scrutinising all state constituencies in preparation for the state polls and expressed confidence that public support for the coalition remains strong — citing their roadshows and dissatisfaction with the Sabah government over infrastructure, cost of living and corruption issues. 'One fact is that people remember our sincerity in managing the country during Covid-19, the aid we provided, our efforts to save many lives. They still remember my contributions and still call me 'Abah',' he said. In response, Armizan said such developments only help to solidify GRS' direction as more national coalitions publicly declare their positions. 'So far, our affairs have become simpler — without us asking, BN Sabah and now PN have declared their stand to reject GRS. What's important is that we keep moving forward. What matters is the people's support, not support from other political blocs,' he said. While refraining from personal attacks, Armizan urged Sabahans to reflect on the underlying message behind such political moves. 'We can hear in their speeches — they say 'We are the ones who made Hajiji an elected representative, we chose Hajiji to be Chief Minister'. This is exactly where we need to pioneer change in Sabah's politics,' he said. Armizan criticised the current structure of national coalitions, which he said places Sabah leaders at the mercy of decision-makers in Peninsular Malaysia. 'In a national coalition, the selection and endorsement of election candidates — even the Chief Minister — are determined by the top leadership in Peninsular Malaysia. Whoever is chosen is expected to remain loyal and obedient to them,' he said. He stressed that local parties offer Sabah greater autonomy. 'With local parties, the candidates are selected and endorsed by local leaders. The Chief Minister comes from among leaders chosen by the people of Sabah themselves.' 'Moving forward, it's time to send a clear signal — the master is not there; the master is here. And the ultimate master is the people of Sabah,' said Armizan. 'Why do I use the word 'master'? We'll talk about that another time,' he added.
