Kuala Lumpur: The suspension of a key section of the Kimanis-Bintulu gas pipeline has sparked debate in Parliament, with Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Madius Tangau questioning potential financial losses for Petronas and the broader implications for Sabah’s energy security.
During last Thursday’s Dewan Rakyat session, Madius pressed the Prime Minister to disclose how much Petronas has lost since operations were halted on the 500-kilometre pipeline linking Kimanis, Sabah, to Bintulu, Sarawak.
He also questioned why the project was pursued despite known geotechnical risks, reiterating longstanding objections from his party, Upko.
Madius said Upko had opposed the pipeline from the start, warning it would divert Sabah’s gas resources and undermine the state’s ability to meet local electricity needs.
After the 12th General Election, Upko had made cancellation of the pipeline a condition of its support for the fifth Prime Minister.
The party proposed rerouting the project through Sandakan or Lahad Datu to prioritise domestic gas use, with surplus supply directed to support petrochemical development at the POIC Lahad Datu.
However, the original route was retained.
Adding to the controversy, Madius revealed that Sabah’s promised 25 per cent equity in the Bintulu LNG project was not a free stake as initially assumed.
Responding to the concerns, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said clarified that only the Sarawak segment — covering Lawas, Limbang, Miri, and Bintulu — has been suspended. Pipeline operations within Sabah remain active.
Azalina explained the suspension was prompted by technical and safety assessments, which revealed significant geotechnical risks, including unstable terrain and recurring land movement threatening the structural integrity of the pipeline.
“Public safety is a priority,” she said, adding that Petronas remains committed to ensuring uninterrupted energy supply via alternative, safer routes.
She noted the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline, launched in 2011, was based on feasibility studies evaluating safety, cost, and commercial viability. However, a series of pipeline failures between 2014 and 2022, coupled with worsening land instability, led to the partial suspension.
Petronas is currently exploring infrastructure upgrades to maintain gas delivery while minimising the risk of future disruptions.
