Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
| Did Taib ‘surrender’ oil right to BN? Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:55 PM PDT Taib Mahmud was the federal-level Primary Industries Minister in charge of oil and gas when the Petroleum Development Act 1974 was passed by Parliament. Free Malaysia Today KUCHING: Chief Minister Taib Mahmud's turnaround on the oil royalty issue after 31 years in power and the fact that he preferred "private" and "amicable discussions" with the federal government have raised more questions. Uppermost on the list is whether Taib and his predecessor and uncle, Abdul Rahman Yakub, had knowingly "surrendered" Sarawak's rights over oil and gas to the federal government. Sarawakians who have read Taib's biography – "A Soul You Can See" – written by Douglas Bullis and who remember their history, would recall that Taib was the federal-level Primary Industries Minister who was in charge of the nation's oil and gas resources. This being the case, was Taib responsible for the lopsided oil agreement and the Petroleum Development Act passed in Parliament in 1974? The Act was passed following a confrontation between Opec (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and oil companies over oil price policies in 1973. Expounding on the 1973 "crisis", Taib was quoted by Bullis as saying: "By 1973 I realised Malaysia and the oil companies were headed for a confrontation over their purchase price policies. "There was too much take and too little give, and Malaysia's people have an ethic based on balance," Taib had said in page 88 of the book. "Eventually I came up with the idea that we should base Malaysia's oil concession policy on shared production agreements. "Naturally I was snubbed by oil companies who claimed the Malaysian government was moving towards nationalisation." Taib's silence Bullis said that it was obvious that Malaysia's post-1974 policy on taking control of Malaysia's petroleum interests from oil companies was largely Taib's works. It is well known in Sabah that its then chief minister Mustapha Harun and his successor Fuad (Donald) Stephens refused to sign the oil agreement giving 5% of oil royalty to Sabah, but Sarawak under Abdul Rahman was said to be "too willing" and signed the agreement. But the question is: Did the nephew and the uncle "surrender" Sarawak's rights over oil and gas to the federal government in order to please the then prime minister Abdul Razak in return for political and financial support? Sarawak was at that time in turmoil following the sacking of its chief minister Stephen Kalong Ningkan in 1966. At the time there were incessant allegations by the Parti Pesaka anak Sarawak president Temenggong Jugah anak Barieng that the Ibans were shabbily treated by Abdul Rahman and Taib. Abdul Rahman was also facing an "internal rebellion" against his leadership from within Pesaka, which had by then (in 1973) merged with Parti Bumiputera to form Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB). At the point of signing the oil agreement, Sarawak was said to be politically unstable and needed the support of the federal government.
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| Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:47 PM PDT Why is the prime minister still toying with the polls date if he is so popular judging by the large numbers who attend his official functions? Selena Tay, FMT For readers who enjoy the 13th general election date-guessing game, the latest from the rumour mill is that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is now also considering an October/early November date besides the September option. "However, the October or November date is dangerous for him as that is the Haj season and holding the polls during the Haj season will ruin his image as a Muslim leader as it infringes on Muslim sensitivity," said PAS strategist and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad. PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad concurred, saying that "if the Barisan Nasional government holds the general election during the Haj season, it will only serve to reveal the true colours of Umno which claims to champion Islam". Besides, why is the prime minister still toying with the polls date if he is so popular judging by the large numbers who attend his official functions? Why is he still dragging his feet over the election date? Moreover, Najib has also urged the rakyat to stick to certainty with the BN government which has a proven track record instead of choosing the opposition and uncertainty. An important point to note is that it was the prime minister himself who has proclaimed that this date-guessing is a national past-time. "By certainty does the prime minister mean that we must stick to the certainty of rising corruption and soaring crime rate? "It is certainly the ultimate in stupidity if, by certainty, we must stick to the same trajectory leading to the abyss of destruction. Is this what the prime minister meant when he said that we must stick to certainty?" asked Dzulkefly. Dzulkefly also said that Najib has really no choice but to use the September date if he still wants to hold the polls this year because holding the polls during the Haj season will make him lose his credibility as a Muslim leader. Or else, Najib should just simplify matters and hold the general election next year. But the major problem with holding the polls next year is that the global economic climate has become unstable. Economy looks bleak Dzulkefly also said that the current macro-economic figures of growth cannot be used to predict the health of the nation's economy in the long term as US, Europe and even economic powerhouse China are experiencing a slowdown. "Malaysia's economy is powered by domestic consumption and right now the number of non-performing loans of individuals is steadily rising. This is an unhealthy trend. In addition, Malaysia's debt ratio which stands at RM653 billion is now at a very dangerous level as it has risen past the 55% benchmark of the GDP, which is the level set by Parliament that the nation must not surpass," he added. This shows that the situation in Malaysia is not what it seems. There is more to it than meets the eye where economic figures are concerned. Besides, statistics are always debatable. One can always present one set of figures to debunk another set of figures. Meanwhile, the federal government is daily issuing statements proclaiming the healthy state of the nation's economy. Does this sound reassuring? Be that as it may, Najib is cornered where the general election date is concerned and it is due to his own doing. He has lost the element of surprise in the game that he himself initiated. Henceforth, the polls can be held anytime and Pakatan Rakyat is now standing ready. Also, the Royal Commission of Inquiry set up to look into the problem of the illegals in Sabah obtaining citizenship needs six months to complete its work and the same can be said of the Oil Royalty Payments Committee. Both the RCI and the Oil Royalty Payments Committee will only complete their work next year. Lacking innovative ideas The federal government is also lacking innovative ideas on running the nation. When Pakatan or the rakyat bring up an issue, sometimes the government will respond and react. Otherwise, there is total silence as in the case of the dirty electoral rolls. Nothing exciting or awe-inspiring is coming from the BN leaders.
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