[ad_1]
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wants the same benefits Sarawak received from Petronas, including sales tax on oil and gas revenues, following the signing of an agreement between Sarawak and the national oil and gas company earlier this month .
Senior Vice Minister Datuk, Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, said Sabah would ensure that it would receive no less than what Sarawak had obtained under the agreement.
“We are not asking for less. If it is more, it would be better,” he told reporters after launching the My Blood2u “Born Hero” blood donation program and officiating the Putatan Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) office here today.
Jeffrey said this when asked whether Sabah would get the same amount Sarawak received when negotiations with Petronas were completed.
On December 7, Petronas and the Sarawak government signed a business agreement on issues related to the state’s sales tax and oil extraction laws.
The commercial settlement agreement will create a framework between the national oil company and the state government that will allow Sarawak to participate more actively in oil and gas activities through Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).
Sabah Prime Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, introducing Sabah’s budget for 2021, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced that Petronas would meet with the Sabah government to start immediate talks with the same purpose.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey, who is also president of STAR, said talks between the Sabah government and Petronas on the issue are expected to take place early next year.
Sabah is expected to collect sales tax on petroleum products worth RM1.25 billion or 27.9 percent of the state’s total revenue next year.
At another event, Jeffrey said that people must continue to respect the diversity of religions and cultures to further strengthen racial unity and harmony in the state.
“The people of Sabah are special because a family living under one roof sometimes has religious differences, but we can sit together in harmony.
“We are unflappable in terms of culture (because) we respect each other. We need to promote harmony and unity rather than division,” he said. – Bernama
[ad_2]
