Kota Kinabalu: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) called on the Federal Government to expedite the return of control over power supply to the State, after it recently handed over control of Sabah’s natural gas resources.
Its President Tan Sri T.C. Goh described the handover of control of Sabah’s natural gas resources as a good start for the Federal Government to fully honour and implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“I am confident that the State Government has the capacity to manage power supply professionally to boost the State’s development and revenues, and to improve the people’s wellbeing.
“After handing over the control of Sabah’s natural gas resources, we hope the Federal Government could also expedite the transfer of control of power supply to Sabah, by initiating the relevant technical and legal procedures,” he said in a statement, Friday.
Goh, who is also an advisor in the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), was commenting on the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement on Wednesday that Petronas will hand over control of Sabah’s natural gas resources to the State.
Goh acknowledged that the announcement was indeed good news that the people of Sabah had been waiting for many years.
He said it also reflected well on the present Federal Government’s sincerity and commitment towards honouring and implementing those special rights promised in the MA63.
Therefore, he hoped the Federal Government could work closely with the Sabah Government to ensure that all the special rights are fully and properly implemented, as promised.
Goh also hoped the State Government could go through the establishment of the Energy Commission of Sabah to ensure a professional and efficient management of Sabah’s power supply.
He said whether it is natural gas or power supply both are important resources for Sabah’s development, besides being essential to the people’s daily lives.
“Once the State Government regains full control over the State’s natural gas and power supply, it would strive to ensure that these two sectors bring greater benefits to the State and its people,” he said.
He also welcomed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s statement that upon the King’s consent (to the transfer of regulatory power), the State Assembly will convene a special sitting to approve and gazette the Sabah State Bills for gas supply, and the Energy Commission of Sabah will take over all regulatory power for onshore gas supply (regasification, transmission, distribution, use of gas by private licensees and retail) in Sabah with immediate effect.
He also hoped that all the 21 issues pertaining to the MA63 will finally be fully resolved.
