Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) accused the State’s PH-BN coalition of staying silent on important oil and gas lawsuits while Sarawak aggressively challenges Federal laws in court.
SAPP Supreme Council member cum Vice Youth Chief, lawyer Yong Yit Jee, dismissed claims by Upko and PBRS that they are securing Sabah’s rights.
“Sarawak is fighting tooth and nail in court, but Sabah PH-BN is using ‘good relations’ as an excuse while our resources are taken away,” Yong said.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});He pointed to the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA1974) and Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA2012) as laws that have undermined Sabah and Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The criticism comes as Sabah NGO Sabar mounts a legal challenge against TSA2012, a move the Sabah Chief Minister has supported, stating the State does not recognise the law.
“Upko and PBRS claim to be bridges to Putrajaya? They are more like pipelines draining Sabah’s wealth straight to Kuala Lumpur,” Yong said.
“Sarawak sues, while Sabah PH-BN settles for handshakes and empty promises,” Yong said, questioning the two parties’ impact where they boast about resolving 13 MA63 issues.
He called out Upko’s Federal minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, for failing to amend PDA1974 or deliver the promised 40 per cent revenue formula by July 2024.
“It is now May 2025, where is the formula? Where is our money?” Yong said, referring to Ewon’s September 2023 announcement.
SAPP, which has long opposed PDA1974, TSA2012 and the loss of oil-rich Blocks L and M to Brunei, is now demanding Sabah PH-BN clarify its stance.
“Will they remain Federal puppets or finally stand with Sarawak to reclaim Sabah’s full MA63 rights?” he said.