Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan has called on Sabah to stand firmly behind Sarawak in seeking a Federal Court determination on the constitutional validity of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA74), the Continental Shelf Act 1966 (CSA66) and the Petroleum Mining Act 1966 (PMA66).

In a statement, the Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president said the legal and constitutional position of Sabah mirrors that of Sarawak, particularly in relation to territorial boundaries extending to the continental shelf prior to Malaysia Day in 1963.

He argued that the PDA74 had effectively deprived Sabah of its oil and gas resources since 1976, leaving the state with only five per cent in royalties, and described the situation as a grave injustice that contributed to Sabah’s persistent poverty and underdevelopment.

Jeffrey said the Sabah government should “walk the talk” in defending the state’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution, including issues related to the 40 per cent net revenue entitlement and petroleum resource control.

He stressed that the struggle is not against the Federal Government but to uphold Sabah’s constitutional rights, adding that Sarawak’s success in the legal reference would also benefit Sabah.

The statement ended with a call for Sabah leaders and citizens to unite in safeguarding the state’s interests and future.