Legal foundation key to Sarawak–federal talks on Petronas-Petros, says Deputy Premier

Borneo Post

09-05-2025

Dr Sim points out that the issue of oil and gas sovereignty involves what he described as 'Sarawak's big money for the next 100 years', and that the rule of law will determine Sarawak's position in this century-long strategic game.
KUCHING (May 9): The ongoing negotiations between the Sarawak government, the federal government, Petronas, and Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) hinge critically on establishing a solid legal foundation, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He pointed out that the issue of oil and gas sovereignty involves what he described as 'Sarawak's big money for the next 100 years', and that the rule of law will determine Sarawak's position in this century-long strategic game.
'This year, the Sarawak government's revenue is RM15.8 billion – equivalent to 15 years of Penang's income or five years of Selangor's. That's the gap,' he said, in a See Hua Daily News report.
He candidly remarked that the agreement currently being negotiated with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, even if only at a preliminary stage, could already bring Sarawak RM10 billion in cash – an amount that surpasses the total property value of Kuching, Sibu and Miri combined.
He said this was merely 'the initial funding', noting that the real value lies in Sarawak's rich and strategically important natural gas reserves.
'We are the fifth or sixth largest natural gas reserve in the world. This money is not just for now — it is money with far-reaching implications for the next hundred years,' he said when officiating at the Borneo Eco Show 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
Touching on medical research, Dr Sim highlighted that since the establishment of Clinical Research Malaysia in 2012, Sarawak has successfully attracted over RM1.5 billion in medical research investments and created around 3,000 high-paying jobs.
He emphasised that Sarawak now leads the nation in First-in-Human (FIH) clinical trials.
In 2023, Malaysia recorded six such trials – five of which were from Sarawak. Notably, the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) has been recognised by international pharmaceutical giant Roche as the only medical institution in Southeast Asia qualified to conduct cancer clinical trials.
Dr Sim also cited Singapore as an example of what not to blindly follow in urban development.
He shared that during a visit with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to Singapore's Ang Mo Kio area in 2022, they learned that the Singapore government had removed a previously cemented river and restored it to its natural state, as the concrete structure had caused fish and birds to vanish.
'Our drains aren't cemented, not because we're advanced, but because we couldn't afford it. But in the end, we preserved the natural rivers, which turned out to be an advantage,' said Dr Sim.
He stressed that urbanisation should balance sustainability with livability, and mistakes made by others need not be repeated.
With a touch of wit, he added: 'If others have already gotten cut by the knife, we don't need to slash ourselves again.' Dr Sim Kui Hian oil and gas Petronas Petros