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Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah government must reclaim full control over its petroleum and gas resources, as its territorial sovereignty is equal to Sarawak’s, said Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan.

Jeffrey stressed that Sabah’s ownership of its continental shelf and all resources therein have been recognised since the 1954 Orders in Council, which extended the state’s boundaries beyond the foreshore.

These boundaries were legally acknowledged before Malaysia Day in 1963 and later cemented in Article 1(3) of the Federal Constitution.

“This is not a request. Sabah’s rights over its oil and gas are a constitutional fact, just as they are for Sarawak,” he said.

He pointed out that Sabah’s Land Ordinance explicitly reserves petroleum and gas for the state, and in 1969, Chief Minister Tun Mustapha secured a 12.5% oil royalty through agreements with international companies.