KUALA LUMPUR (May 10): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg have agreed to resolve all issues between Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) through negotiations.

The basic principles as previously agreed to facilitate negotiations between Petronas and Petros will also be finalised in the near term, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday night.

The statement stated that Anwar had on Friday chaired a meeting with Abang Johari as well as the top leadership of Petronas and Petros at Perdana Putra, Putrajaya.

“This step is important to ensure that the great potential that has been identified from the collaboration between Petronas and Petros can be fully explored and implemented effectively.

“This includes expediting the commercial supply of energy to Asean countries.”

The statement added that the meeting had taken place in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere based on the spirit of the federation.

Early this month, the Sarawak government accused Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd, the main upstream arm of Petronas, of breaching a state law on gas distribution. The alleged breach, under Section 7(e) Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016, involves the operation of a plant owned by Petronas Carigali in Miri.

Petronas is disputing the accusation.

The tiff is the latest between the increasingly assertive Sarawak and the federal government over the rights and management of petroleum resources in the state. Petros has also clashed with Petronas in courts.