Sarawak and Petronas dispute order of Federal Court oil-rights hearings

In Putrajaya, the Sarawak government and Petroliam Nasional Bhd are at odds over the sequencing of their Federal Court petitions concerning the state’s oil and gas jurisdiction. Both parties prefer separate hearings, yet Petronas argues its Jan 10 filing should be heard before Sarawak’s Feb 23 petition, citing earlier leave granted on March 16. Sarawak, represented by senior state counsel Mohd Adzrul Adzlan, wants the court to first resolve a preliminary question on the validity of the 1954 Order in Council that defined Sarawak and Sabah boundaries, a point Petronas opposes.

Federal Court judge Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang scheduled another case-management conference on Oct 1 and tentatively set the substantive hearing for the week of Jan 25 next year. Petronas’ petition challenges the applicability of Sarawak’s Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emission) Ordinance 2023 and Oil Mining Ordinance 1958, while Sarawak contests three federal statutes—the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Continental Shelf Act 1966 and Petroleum Mining Act 1966. Federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly @ Arwi and Imtiyaz Wizni Aufa Othman represented the federal government.