The ceding of Blocks L and M to Brunei......

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today demanded that Datuk Seri Najib Razak explain in Parliament about the surrender of a disputed oil-rich area in the South China Sea to Brunei last year.

The prime minister has admitted that the oil-rich Blocks L and M off Borneo belong to Brunei, weeks after national oil firm Petronas terminated contracts to develop the disputed oil blocks.

“I am urging the prime minister state clearly in Parliament in detail about the federal government’s decision in the issue of the surrender of national territories, specifically Blocks L and M to Brunei,” Anwar (picture) said during an adjournment speech in Parliament.

Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had confirmed on April 30 that Blocks L and M had been “handed over” by the federal government to Brunei.

“The surrender was completed on March 16, 2009, merely 17 days before YB Kepala Batas stepped down as PM on April 3, 2009,” the PKR de factor leader and parliamentary Opposition Leader said.

The Permatang Pauh MP claimed that the oil blocks surrender was hidden from public knowledge and only exposed a year later.

He said the news about the surrender was “shocking” as it involved the “nation’s sovereignty as well as the nation’s maritime and economical interests”.

“When tabling the 2006 Maritime Border Laws in Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department YB Padang Renggas said that Malaysia had stated its borders through the announcement of the Malaysian New Map back in Dec 21, 1979.

“This map was published in two sheets, one for Peninsular and one for Sabah, Sarawak. According to the Sabah, Sarawak sheet, Blocks L and M were within Malaysia’s waters and borders. This was announced officially before Brunei became independent in 1980,” said Anwar.

Anwar later reiterated to reporters about the points made in Parliament, saying that Najib should shed some light on the details of the surrender which, according to him, “lacked transparency”.

“We only found out when Murphy Oil was informed by Petronas to stop operations. This is wrong because it affects national interest.

“At the least we should have a joint development authority pact,” he explained.

The oil blocks issue first came to light when former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a blog posting, demanded clarification from Abdullah regarding the status of Blocks L and M.

Ipoh Timur MP and DAP parliamentary chief Lim Kit Siang has also demanded that a white paper be presented in Parliament on the matter.

source:malaysian insider

We lost Batu Putih followed by Tanjong Pagar KTMB land deal and now we loose two oil rich areas to Brunei. Blaming ex-PM Pat Lah alone is unfair, the whole cabinet under Pat Lah should be blamed too, coz the agreed collectively.Najib,Muhyiddin & Hishamuddin were part of Pat Lah's cabinet and they pretend as if nothing happened.

If the cabinet decision is illegal then all those responsible must be charged in court for "selling" Malaysia.

But will Najib 1Malaysia do that.........

cheers.