LETTER | The recent statement by former Minister Nancy Shukri that Sarawak deserves to get what is rightly ours in the oil deal should be lauded.

It is the foremost aspiration of every Sarawakian that the oil and gas rights derived from the state be given back to the Sarawak. There should be absolutely no further negotiation on the matter – just return the rights to Sarawak and then negotiate the terms and conditions for extracting the oil and gas from within Sarawak’s territorial boundary.

The Pakatan Harapan government would indeed be much appreciated if the rights are returned and it is certain that Sarawak will also be accommodating in the negotiating of the terms and conditions for the extractions.

For the majority of ordinary Sarawakians, the oil and gas rights are crucial for the development of the state into a vibrant economy as can be seen in oil producing countries like Norway and the Middle Eastern ones.

By investing the revenue generated from the oil and gas sale, Sarawak should be able to jump-start its economy and infrastructure as well as social developments due mainly to the small population base and also vast land and sea resources for different types of businesses.

A good example is our neighbour Brunei where the citizens enjoy many benefits which should rightly be also enjoyed by Sarawakians from their natural resources.

The Sarawak Institute for Public Affairs (Sipa) fully supports the state government's decision to formally request for the return of our rights to our natural resources and to develop the state to meet the aspirations of the people here for a bright future.

In this respect, all discussions and negotiations on the matter should be given a time frame to conclude so that there is real urgency in the matter.

The writer, is director, Sarawak Institute for Public Affairs (Sipa).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.