No Plans To Reactivate National Petroleum Advisory Council -- Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- There is no plan to reactivate the National Petroleum Advisory Council (MPPN), which would be at the Prime Minister’s discretion as the minister responsible for matters pertaining to petroleum under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (Act 144).

This was said by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said who added that records show that MPPN has been dormant since 1995.

However, she noted that the National Energy Council (MTN) has been activated based on the Cabinet’s decision related to the National Energy Policy and its first meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on April 2, 2024.

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Azalina said MTN’s members include representatives from the Sabah and Sarawak governments.

“MTN is aimed at steering the direction of the country’s energy sector and ensuring strong accountability and ownership among the various implementing ministries and agencies in carrying out energy-related policy initiatives,” she said in a written reply on the Parliament’s website.

Her statement was in response to a query from Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) who wanted to know the government’s stance on the establishment of MPPN under Act 144 and on its membership.

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Azalina said the MPPN first convened on April 9, 1975, chaired by then-Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Raja Tan Sri Mohar Raja Badiozaman.

She explained that the appointment of any council member would be made by the Prime Minister based on the capacity of that member outside MPPN, unless stated otherwise.

MPPN’s duty is to advise the Prime Minister in line with the provisions of Section 5(2) of Act 144 -- on national policy, interests and matters pertaining to petroleum, petroleum industries, energy resources and their utilisation.  

Meanwhile, Azalina also said Petronas is still in the negotiation process with the Sarawak government and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) on the natural gas distribution in the state.

She said the discussion has been prolonged as it involves various aspects and a significant impact on the implementation of Sarawak’s Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 and existing laws.

“All parties are striving for an outcome that caters to the interest and needs of all parties involved,” Azalina said.

This was in reply to a query from Datuk Ali Biju (PN-Saratok) regarding the latest status on the transfer of the gas aggregator’s role from Petronas to Petros as well as the financial and commercial implications for Petronas and the Federal Government.

-- BERNAMA