Anwar gets to debate RM9.4b sale of Petronas' assets in Azerbaijan
PARLIAMENT | Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has brought an emergency motion to Parliament today to debate the recent sale of about RM9.41 billion of Petronas’ business interests in Azerbaijan.
Anwar (Pakatan Harapan-Port Dickson) tabled the motion under Standing Order 18(1) and 18(2) - which deals with matters of public interest - at the end of the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He claimed that Petronas had sold its business interests in Azerbaijan for close to RM10 billion after Petronas’ dividend to the government was increased to RM25 billion for 2021.
“This is important because...
PARLIAMENT | Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has brought an emergency motion to Parliament today to debate the recent sale of about RM9.41 billion of Petronas’ business interests in Azerbaijan.
Anwar (Pakatan Harapan-Port Dickson) tabled the motion under Standing Order 18(1) and 18(2) - which deals with matters of public interest - at the end of the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He claimed that Petronas had sold its business interests in Azerbaijan for close to RM10 billion after Petronas’ dividend to the government was increased to RM25 billion for 2021.
“This is important because the sale of the assets in Azerbaijan is worth nearly RM10 billion and also with the RM25 billion dividend to the government for 2021, it is dangerous and could damage the future of Petronas,” Anwar said during the tabling.
It is also a matter of public interest, he said, as Petronas is an important economic institution in the country and it should be strengthened.
He also posted screenshots of the submitted motion on his Facebook a few days ago.
The motion was approved by Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, who agreed that it is important, urgent and a matter of public interest.
As such, he said the motion will be debated in the special chambers at 2.30pm today.
Anwar then argued that the matter should be debated in the Dewan Rakyat as it involves the national economy.
Azhar, however, stood by his decision, saying that there is not much difference between debating the matter in special chambers or in the Dewan Rakyat.
He also pointed out there are still two government bills that need to be handled in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“Proceedings at the special chambers can be watched by the public and it is recorded. So, there isn’t much of a difference,” Azhar had said.
It was reported in early October that Petronas had confirmed they have reached an agreement with Russian oil and gas company LUKOIL for the proposed sale of Petronas’ business interests in Azerbaijan.
This includes Petronas’ entire 15.5 percent stake in the Shah Deniz natural gas project in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea for US$2.25 billion (roughly RM9.41 billion).
The proposed transaction is expected to be effective from Jan 1 next year. Petronas has not said how it plans to use the proceeds from the stake sale.
