NOT satisfied with just recovering 5% petroleum sales tax, Sarawak will slap Petronas with late payment interest on monies owed, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Syarifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said today.

“The more they delay, the more they have to pay,” she said.

Hasidah also told reporters at the legislative assembly that the state could file the legal suit to recover the 5% the national petroleum company had balked on paying “as soon as possible”, alluding to Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg’s budget address yesterday.

He said the state will take its case to court if Petronas, which has been issued with the Notice of Assessment over the non-payment, refuses to pay up.

“We are firm and will take action as soon as possible, before the end of this month,” she said in a press conference.

“Petronas has, to date, not paid the sales tax on petroleum products under the state sales tax ordinance.

“The government will pursue this matter and will vigorously utilise all legal avenues available to us to get the tax from Petronas under ordinance and we are ready to take legal action,” the Samariang assemblyman said.

She said Petronas had not even responded to the notice it was served in September.

She also implied that the national oil company also acted in bad faith during negotiations over sales tax dispute.

“Initially, they asked us not to take any legal action, but after negotiations, still the same. Not much happened.

“Since we issued them the notice also nothing.

“It’s frustrating for us.” – November 5, 2019.