Jurisdictional Disputes Over Oil And Gas In Sarawak: A Contemporary Legal Analysis
Abstract
This article provides a contemporary legal analysis of the jurisdictional disputes surrounding oil and gas resources in Sarawak. The tension between the federal and state governments has intensified in recent years, driven by competing interpretations of key legislative instruments, including the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA), the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA), and the Sarawak Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO). Central to this conflict is the question of whether the federal government, through PETRONAS, holds exclusive control over the state’s petroleum resources, or whether Sarawak retains regulatory authority under its constitutional and historical rights, particularly as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). This article examines the constitutional framework, relevant statutory provisions, and recent political and legal developments to assess the validity of competing claims. It also evaluates the implications of these disputes for resource governance, federalism, and legal certainty in Malaysia. Ultimately, the article argues for clearer legal harmonisation and a cooperative federalist approach to ensure balanced resource management and state-federal relations.
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