NEGOTIATION on acquiring a 10% stake in Petronas Liquefied Natural Gas LNG 9 plant was put on hold, said Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Musa in denying the deal had been cancelled said the postponement was to allow a similar deal between the national oil company and Thai state-linked PTTEP to complete first.

“Negotiations now had resumed, the state government need to be sure to get the best deal from Petronas,” he said.

Musa said this in response to questions raised by DAP Sabah Sri Tanjong Chan Foong Hin at the State Legislative Assembly today.

Chan last Saturday claimed Sabah had never acquired the LNG 9 stake as promised by Musa in 2014, urging Musa not to use the acquisition story to justify his non-commitment to the demand of many Sabahans for 20% oil royalty from the federal government.

Chan also included a Companies Commission report indicating no Sabahans were listed in the LNG9 shareholding.

Petronas disposed a 10% stake in LNG9 for US$500 million (RM2.14 billion to the Thailand national oil company and partner on July 28. – August 7, 2017.