Kota Kinabalu: Warisan has criticised the Federal Government’s recently announced Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the United States (US), calling it an irresponsible move that sidelines Sabah and Sarawak, the two states that have long powered Malaysia’s oil and gas industry.
Information Chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said the agreement, which commits Malaysia to import up to five million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually from the US worth more than US$3 billion, shows how federal priorities continue to neglect East Malaysia’s rights and resources.
Azis said the deal also includes the purchase of US$204 million worth of US-made aircraft, energy and telecommunications products, including coal, despite Malaysia’s rising national debt, which has already exceeded RM1 trillion.
“It is deeply irresponsible for the Federal Government to commit billions to foreign purchases while failing to honour constitutional obligations under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said Wednesday.
He questioned the logic of buying LNG from the United States when Sabah and Sarawak already host world-class gas facilities in Kimanis and Bintulu, which have powered Malaysia’s energy security for decades.
“Instead of strengthening the capacity of these two states, Putrajaya has chosen to buy gas from abroad, a move that defies logic and undermines the contribution of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. Azis warned that the imports would benefit foreign industries at the expense of local communities, costing Malaysians valuable opportunities for jobs, contracts and downstream investment that could have been generated through expanded domestic production.
He also criticised the Federal Government’s decision to import coal from the United States, saying Malaysia could have strengthened regional cooperation by sourcing from Indonesia, a closer and more cost-effective Asean partner.
“The deeper issue is not just about trade but about decision-making without the participation of Sabah and Sarawak. The Federal Government continues to use the natural wealth of these states as bargaining chips in international negotiations while excluding their voices from the table,” he said.
Azis said such centralised decision-making runs contrary to the spirit of MA63, which promised partnership and autonomy for the two Borneo states.
He reminded that Sabah is still waiting for its 40 per cent net revenue entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, a right that has been “delayed and denied for decades.”“If the Government can afford billion-ringgit purchases from foreign powers, it can certainly afford to fulfil its legal and moral duty to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Azis said importing LNG and coal from the US weakens Malaysia’s energy independence and diminishes East Malaysia’s strategic role within the federation.