Probe must cover S’wak’s own resources, federal allocations, contracts alongside PETRONAS

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 30: Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) has stressed that any Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the management of Sarawak’s oil and gas wealth must not stop at Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), but extend to scrutinising the Sarawak’s leadership, including how federal allocations, timber and palm oil revenues, and State-owned companies such as Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) have been managed.

PBDS permanent chairman Dr John Brian Anthony said while the party welcomes calls for the RCI to investigate how PETRONAS spent more than RM1 trillion in profits generated from Sarawak’s oil and gas resources, Sarawak government must also be held to the same standards of accountability.

“This is an important step to uphold transparency, justice and accountability in the sharing of revenues between the federal government, PETRONAS and oil-producing states. But accountability must be balanced. Sarawak’s leaders too must answer how federal allocations, timber and palm oil revenues, and state-owned firms like Petros have been managed,” he said in a statement today.

John was responding to a proposal by Senator Robert Lau for the establishment of an RCI into Petronas’ spending, which has been supported by former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who also stressed that transparency and oversight must extend to Sarawak’s leadership and PETROS.

He observed that despite Sarawak’s natural wealth worth trillions of ringgit, many Sarawakians, particularly rural and Dayak communities, continue to live in hardship.

“Basic infrastructure such as roads, schools and rural clinics remain inadequate, while issues surrounding native customary rights land persist. These concerns are not merely political rhetoric, but realities that PBDS has witnessed firsthand on the ground. The people are still waiting for the real benefits of the State’s wealth,” he claimed.

John urged Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), as the Sarawak government, to provide clear explanations to the people instead of shifting blame solely onto PETRONAS or the federal government.

“GPS must prove its administration is genuinely transparent and clean. It must also be bold in explaining the role of PETROS, the transparency of major contracts, and concrete plans to ensure that the State’s wealth reaches the people, not just a small group of political and business elites,” he added.

He emphasised that the struggle to secure greater oil and gas rights for Sarawak would only be meaningful if the State could demonstrate integrity in managing existing revenues.

“Oil, gas, timber and native land belong to the people, not a handful of individuals. PBDS stands with all Sarawakians in demanding true justice. The RCI must be transparent, and GPS cannot remain silent. This is the people’s demand today,” he stressed.

In conjunction with National Day on Aug 31, John also called on Malaysians, especially Sarawakians, to remain united, uphold the spirit of independence, and ensure the country’s wealth is enjoyed fairly by all communities. — DayakDaily

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