The Sarawak state government has frozen 90 new work permit applications from non-Sarawakian employees of Petronas, since the moratorium was put in place on Aug 7.

The state government will only lift the moratorium once it has reached a stage of fair consensus in its discussions with Petronas on Sarawakian employment opportunities, said Sarawak deputy Chief Minister Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, as reported by The Borneo Post.

He said this at 'The Appointment of New Office-Bearers 2016-2017 for Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Malaysia Sarawak (Forum)-cum-Appreciation Night' at ParkCity Everly Hotel on Sunday.

"Let’s together regain the rights of Sarawak which have already eroded.

"We are confident that the outcome of these efforts can be seen in the near future, where the people of Sarawak are able to enjoy the benefits through greater participation in Petronas,” he said.

Uggah, who had announced the moratorium earlier this month, earlier said that the state government had sought a detailed report from Petronas on the participation of Sarawakians in the oil company's operations in the state.

This move had come amid complaints of Sarawakians being retrenched from Petronas' operations in the state despite the already low participation from locals.

Sarawak state-founded think-tank Suarah Petroleum Group (SPG) had claimed that only 39 percent of management positions and 46 percent of mid-management posts in Petronas' Sarawak operations were filled by Sarawakians.