SARAWAK will continue to work with PETRONAS, ensuring that both sides contribute positively to Malaysia’s energy resilience and long-term national interest, says Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie (GPS-Sri Aman).
“The partnership between Sarawak and PETRONAS remains strong, strategic and forward- looking,” she said, as one of several GPS MP backbenchers who held a joint press conference at the Parliament media room yesterday to address what they felt were misleading narratives circulating online concerning Sarawak and the national energy sector.
In June, the national oil company had announced plans for workforce adjustments, estimating a 10% reduction as part of a group-wide restructuring to cut costs amid falling crude prices and continued market volatility impacting its profitability.
Subsequently, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said that PETRONAS’ move to trim its workforce was due to global challenges and that it was not connected to issues linked to Sarawak’s state-owned oil and gas company, Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).
Doris said yesterday that the staff lay-offs were “purely part of PETRONAS’ strategic direction for right-sizing and nothing to do with Sarawak’s constitutional rights or demands”.
“There is no direct or indirect connection between PETRONAS’ internal decisions and Sarawak’s rightful pursuit of regulatory and commercial roles in managing its own oil and gas resources through Petros,” she said.
