Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister James Masing is enraged that state oil and gas firm Petronas is sending another 90 staff from West Malaysia for its Sarawak operations when local staff are retrenched.

The state earlier imposed a moratorium on new work permits for Petronas workers from West Malaysia, pending complaints that local workers are not prioritised.

Sarawak has autonomy on immigration and non-Sarawakian Malaysians need to obtain a work permit, under the Malaysia Agreement.

"Why does Petronas need 90 work permits when local Sarawakians in Petronas are being retrenched?

"Is Petronas doing the restructuring of its employees for trimming exercise due to the economic downturn, or is it replacing Sarawakians with West Malaysians?

"Is it retrenching or replacing exercise?” he is quoted as asking by the Borneo Post.

The infrastructure development and transport minister said Petronas must not take the cries of Sarawakians and their leaders for granted.

Petronas earlier reportedly abolished 29 permanent positions, resulting in the retrenchment of 13 staff from Sarawak in its upstream restructuring exercise.

The top brass of Petronas has held meetings with the state over the matter.

The issue has also seen a split within the opposition, with Sarawak opposition leaders supporting the work permit freeze, while some from West Malaysia have questioned the move.