Former premier Abdullah Badawi has denied giving up the oil rights in Blocks L and M – but his response raises more questions.
In remarks published by the Malaysian Insider, he said Blocks L and Block M would be jointly developed by Malaysia and Brunei over 40 years. He added:
The financial and operational modalities for giving effect to this arrangement will be further discussed by the two sides. This means that in so far as the oil and gas resources are concerned, the agreement is not a loss for Malaysia…
This agreement serves to settle certain overlapping claims which existed in the past which included the area of the concession blocks known before as Block L and Block M. Sovereign rights to the resources in this area now belongs to Brunei.
However, for this area the agreement includes a commercial arrangement under which Malaysia will be allowed to participate, on a commercial basis, to jointly develop the oil and gas resources in this area for a period of 40 years…
In my capacity as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, I signed the Exchange of Letters with the Sultan of Brunei after the Malaysian Cabinet approved the deal on 11 February 2009…
More answers are needed:
- On what basis did the Cabinet and Abdullah decide to hand sovereign rights to the resources to Brunei?
- What were the precise terms of the agreement? What did Malaysia get in return? Limbang?
- Why wasn’t this deal made public? Was it raised in Parliament?
- What is the financial impact of this deal on Malaysia?
- Why were the contracts with Murphy Oil cancelled? How will Murphy Oil be compensated?
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Frankly, whatever Pak Blur “remembers” will always be clouded by a dreamy haze (if you get what I mean).
… Someone is going to be very rich from this. … cronies will also be taken care by this.
Who cares about what the rakyat thinks. UMNO has the power….
It is always easy to make believe that the grass is always greener at the other side of the fence whenever one faces adversary.Is this kind of mindset and thinking that you want to leave/inculcate to your children?
Dunno about other situation but that invisible fence in between Johore and Singapore —
On one side Mat Rempits, corruption, institutionalized racism, incest, child killing, and so on …
On the other side,
Mat Rempits – Takde
Korupsi – Sikit je
Rasisma – PAP bukan UMNO
And so forth …
Indeed rumput the sebelah sana memang lebih ijau !
Dear Anil,
Maybe you should help your readers by showing the following map: http://media.themalaysianinsider.com/images/2010/04/30/limbangmap.jpg
In this case I agree with Al Tugauw, that headhunter from Sarawak.
You may be wrong in interpreting EEZ as given by Sarawak Headhunter.
“You may be wrong in interpreting EEZ as given by Sarawak Headhunter.”
Look at the map, Khoo, look at the map.
Unlike some BN machai here, I looked at the map before I replied you.
Then mebbe u dunno how to read a map.
Nevermind.
That also mean Mahahtir administration from 1980 to 1991 knew nothing about nautical map.
My next question is the map is published by who?
Use a projector to draw 200 nautical miles perimeter from Sabah and Sarawak borders and see where are the overlapping areas.
… Only recently has PR arisen to challenge the Umnputras. If the Umnoputras cannot be stopped the (country) will be reduced… and … ravaged by … plunder.
Is this the Malaysia you want to leave to your children, Gerakan K?
With money in my bank, I have no problem to stay in Malaysia forever. Malaysia is already very good for us if you ignore the rhetoric from the opposition.
Imagine they took Spore to international court just to fight over those tiny worthless rocks. This piece of land, rights whatever belongs to Sarawak, why should they bother? As someone mentioned in another blog, …1% of RM320 billion is a lot of money lah!
The fight with Singapore is not the tiny rock matter, it more on EEZ re-draw issue.
PR must push for a new law to ban PM or anyone to sign off nation sovereignty deal with other countries prior to approval from the parliament and the king.
No countries in this world except Bolehland will give up sovereign rights without informing her parliament and people.
RM320b potential earnings and Abdullah Badawai gave away soreign rights to Brunei; for what? Apparently to establish land and sea boundaries! He said he had the Malaysian Cabinet’s approval, and Najib was deputy at the time. Din Najib not object? RM320b and now Najib is unwilling to listen to the Labour Day gatherers object to imposition of the GST as he needs badly to raise RM1b from us, 80% of whom do not earn enough to qualify to pay imcome tax.
On what legal basis Pak Lah had decided to give away these blocks to Brunei?
Limbang is never a part of Brunei, giving away these two blocks in exchange of Brunei dropping claim on Limbang is stupid and (could amount to) treason to Malaysia and her people.
(What if) UMNO wanted to sell off Labuan or any part of Sabah Ocean to Philippine in exchange of Sulu Sultan dropping the claim on Sabah?
UMNO is not just corrupt, now they even dare to (give up) Malaysia sovereignty (over these blocks).
http://www.nkkhoo.com/2010/05/01/pak-lah-refutes-claims-it-was-a-deal-with-brunei-in-‘exchange’-for-limbang/
I am not siding anyone here, but most perhaps are missing the point that Blocks L and M lie within Brunei’s Exclusive Economic Zone and were never Malaysia’s anyway to give away.
Set aside the historical evidence as claimed by Mahahtir.
250 nautical miles from the mainland shoreline is defined as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
There is always overlapping in oceanic zone for two adjacent countries sharing a shoreline.
Your map showing parallel lines is wrong in EEZ definition.
Correction…EEZ should be 200 nautical miles from the shoreline.
Frankly, the oil found in Malaysia actually destroyed Malaysia, particularly when it is being used for BN’s grand work without return, making us a big spendthrift with no plan for the future. When oil runs out, every one suffers. May be it is a blessing in disguise.
“Frankly, the oil found in Malaysia actually destroyed Malaysia”
Umm… the above sentence needs one word – “HELPED“, as in “Frankly, the oil found in Malaysia actually HELPED destroy Malaysia”
Oil isn’t the culprit Malaysia.
UMNO is.
You are barking on a wrong tree, the culprit should be UMNO, MCA and MIC, not our natural resources.
Anil, you missed one more, Most important question… Was he … as usual Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz? :-))
Like Professor Danny Quah said, if Malaysia is not careful, it can go the PIGS. 🙂
(PIGS = Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain)
Just to side track a bit, you guys heard about the ceiling collapsed of Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang?. It look bad from the picture circulated. Any statement out from the CM office yet?
Looking at the maps it seems the fields/blocks are clearly within the economic zone of Bunei and as such have never ‘belonged’ to Malaysia.
If ever brought in front of an international tribunal I have difficulties to see how Malaysia may be able to claim the area to be withing its territorial/economic zone waters.
Malaysia could not even defend Pedra Blanca which was a land mass above water, how to defend the sea-bottom?
The one to ‘blame’ in this case is the one that originally claimed the blocks belonging to Malaysia.
The government has been lying to the people all the time and on all issues, not just this one. UMNO thinks and behaves as though it owns the country and the BN component partoes allow it to do as it pleases…. Malaysia is a toy in UMNO’s hands. The country’s coffers is its piggy bank. UMNO cares not a damn about Parliament and the rakyat. It is this UMNO’s proprietorial thinking that allowed it to indulge, blatantly and with impunity, to do as it pleases – be it … Submarine, state of our Judiciary, legalized corruption in high places, media… Read more »
It’s not a matter of winning the election, the issue is all about, but what should have been our utmost concern on this issue, is the rights and sovereignty of a nation. Our resources should be well preserved, protected and managed for the benefit of the country and it’s people. We don’t expect our country’s resources to be wasted in a horse trading venture like this. We afraid that if not properly handled we may be left with nothing as legacy for our next coming generations.
No difference whether it was given away or not.
Whatever revenue will be used to fund UMNOputras’ extravagant lifestyle anyway.
After the Hoo and the Haaa. Abuk pun tak ada.
It’s more interesting to go after rm 2,400 alleged corruption not even when there is no solid ground to file the case….
No big deal on this matter….
For the Malaysian masses, it makes no difference whatsoever as Malaysia’s petrol are sold only through 6 individually held companies. Makes it easier for cash redistribution….
Pak Lah got the land matter settled, oil wells has no value once exhausted, land is until the end of time.
For the average Malaysian, he will get nothing when the oil is being extracted, but he can settle in Limbang on freehold land.
Kudos to Pak Lah.????????????!!!!!
Pak Lah transferred sovereign rights to Brunei silently? Wait a moment, this is not a commercial issue which can be settled without the parliament approval.
What if Brunei chase you out from the blocks because you are no longer the rightful owner?
The main question: how much…???
Bravo PR !!!
Use this issue in Sibu by-election !!!
Sure win for at least 5000 votes !!!
It wasn’t even PR who raised the issue in the 1st place Gerakan K. It was Tun Dr M himself. The Grand Old Master of Politics, attacking his former successor again. He should have retired in peace. PR just happened to pick up the pieces.
But seriously man, I doubt that this issue is gonna be like the biggest issue in Sibu. Nope. You may never know what East Malaysians are thinking. For me, I’d still go for a convincing BN victory. 2,000 – 3,000 majority? ;P
Ahmad, Gerakan K, sometimes throw tantrums and needs to be feeded Chupa Chups, to bring him back to be a responsible boy. With regards to Sibu, bro, come on, be more optimistic, how can we be pessimistic going into another GE? But, have to agree with you in a way, that “defeated generals do not talk of going into battle”. But, luckily, this is DAP to fight. To win, or to stay in contention, DAP must garner at least 65% of the Chinese votes, which hovered around 50% in the last GE. It is not going to be easy, but,… Read more »
“we never know what is in the minds of those Siburians”
I must commend you for your honesty.
For the past 3 decades, DAP never know anything, except for worshiping the father and son pair.
Maybe, just maybe, after the father and son are gone, DAP may start anew, and get to know the voters.
O,
DAP must garner more than 70% of chinese. Yup, I gonna be optimistic because DAP in its own right won Sibu before 20 over years ago. I hope that PR has learnt its lesson soon in Hulu Selangor…..Move on to win Sibu……It’s winnable
Getting 70% is a difficult task, as too many Siburians had left Sibu, also understand that the economy in Sibu, is (virtually) controlled by Robert junior.
Somehow I just feel it is tough but we need to be optimistic. Let us just hope the Ibans will change.
DAP will need 65% to stay in contention and 70% for a win.
All the best, but, really, it will not be easy, anyway, politics today has changed so much that there will be no easy fight for either BN Or PR anymore. Good development.
PAS for All, Salam Reformasi
Sorry, to be fed chupa chups
For by-elections my dear O, I’m always pessimistic, because BN can focus whatever resources that they have to win the by-election at all costs. It’s OK, let it be like back in 2007 where we lost all 3 by-elections, but a year later, oops, we denied them 2/3 majority. If this is a battle meant to be lost, so be it. There’s still a war to be won. =) Besides, BN cannot use the same strategy of goodies for the next GE. By then, our national coffers would be dried up if they do that. So, let them win, no… Read more »
Don`t worry, as I have said earlier, HS was fluid but Sibu 99% DAP PR
in coming days (maybe few days or weeks) goverment (might) change the story telling block L and M only worth for 3b not 320b. this is similar to jet engine case where the final price far below than reported.
dr.m is petronas (advisor). so, what does he do than? how come 320b worth of oilfield(if it’s true) can simply by-pass the filter?
as we all know about the badawi, i guess he’s not the one that do this agreement. must me some internal pressure or…
We are a very RICH country! We can afford to give away our rights to our scarce resources BUT cannot afford to give world class public education to our children, economic support to struggling SMEs, RM100 annually to the elderly, computers for every school children, tax exemption for the below middle-class to scholarships for every genuine As scorer. We can even splurge on defence equipments when there is nary a ghost of enemy to counter.
We are the most generous negara in Asia!
“We can afford to give away our rights to our scarce resources BUT cannot afford to give world class public education to our children”
I think you may be mistaken.
It is not that we can NOT afford….
“Kulification” is the name of the game.
I think you are missing several point.
1) This is not a done deal – still have to be ratified by Parliament on both sides. Its just that the work of the o&g companies cannot go on anymore.
2) The terms are not finalised because the work is not done like border and terms of the commercial agreement.
3) While not all the terms were revealed, the main points was revealed
4) Without a full agreement the financial numbers is likely to be approximate but nevertheless, its in Brunei favour financially..