Many questions remain unanswered: DCM
Published on: Friday, June 07, 2024
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Guests of honour, government officials and families of the victims pose for a photo after the wreath-laying ceremony.
Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan on Thursday questioned the oil deal with Petronas that heavily favoured the national oil company and coming close on the heels of the 1976 Double Six tragedy that killed several top Sabah leaders.
Speaking at the memorial event at the Sembulan crash site, Jeffrey said the 48-year-old tragedy that took the lives of then Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens and state ministers remains shrouded in mystery.
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“To this day, the whole thing remains a mystery. Every year, we come here not only to remember the victims and families left behind, but also the impact it had on Sabah,” he said.
Jeffrey noted that just days after the crash on June 6, 1976, Sabah’s new leadership was pressured to sign an oil agreement with Petronas that stripped the State of its rights and revenues.
“I still wonder why on June 14, 1976 they came again to ask the Sabah Government to sign the agreement. The agreement was not signed and was not approved by our leaders in Labuan.
“We don’t really know the full story...When we see what was signed, I am disappointed with the agreement that we were forced to sign - the agreement that gave oil to Petronas.”
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He said under the 1976 deal, Petronas was granted full ownership of oil reserves off Sabah’s coast in exchange for just a five per cent stake for the State and a promise not to claim additional royalties beyond that amount. Sabah had previously been entitled to 12.5 per cent royalties.
“Not only did we lose our leaders, we also lost oil, we also lost the right to take away the royalties and we are facing a situation where we don’t have enough resources to build our country. As a result, we are in a miserable state,” he said.
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He also expressed the State Government’s support for families of the tragedy victims who are demanding more transparency surrounding the fatal crash.
“It is the right of the family to do so. We sympathise with them and, of course, they have the State Government’s support,” he said when asked about the possibility of the families pursuing legal action to compel authorities to provide more information.
Now, 48 years after the Nomad aircraft crashed with no survivors, the victims’ families have voiced disappointment over the Federal Government’s prolonged silence on their queries related to the newly declassified investigation report.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin, said they had written to the relevant ministry seeking clarity on the crash report, which was initially classified under the Official Secrets Act for decades.
However, over six months have passed with no acknowledgment from authorities.
The tragedy dealt a devastating blow to Sabah’s political landscape when the twin-engine Nomad went down in Sembulan.
While the report into the crash was finally declassified last year, the families insist many questions remain unanswered about the circumstances and rationale for its contents initially being deemed an official secret.
“We feel bad not just as family members, but for all Sabahans who have been wondering what truly happened that day,” Donald said.
“The report is out, but we are unsatisfied that such an important matter was kept secret for so long from the public.
Donald questioned why details surrounding the deaths of “our premier leaders at that time” were deemed an official secret for nearly half a century, despite no apparent threat to national security.
If their queries remain unanswered, the families are considering legal action as a last resort, though Donald did not elaborate on potential grounds for a lawsuit.
“For 47 years, our families were deprived of taking any available action then due to the report being classified. That right was taken away over something that does not threaten national unity,” he said.
The families are giving authorities some more time to respond before reconvening to decide their next steps in pursuing accountability over the plane crash that dramatically shaped Sabah’s history.
In SANDAKAN, the simple yet meaningful ceremony to commemorate the Double Six tragedy was held at Trig Hill, Thursday.
“It is important for all of us, the people of Sabah, to always commemorate our fallen leaders,” said Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong. Some gathered as early as 6am.
“Remembering the services of our leaders is important so that we have appreciation and respect for their struggles.
“The people of Sabah should also continue to fight for our rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, so that we Sabahans are no longer monopolised by any party,” he said.
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