THE Kuching High Court has refused an application from Petronas for a stay of proceedings on a suit filed by the Sarawak Comptroller of state sales tax and the state government against the national petroleum company.

In his decision made in chambers, judicial commissioner Christopher Chin set March 13 for the hearing of the suit against Petronas to recover unpaid sales tax on petroleum products amounting to RM1.3 billion.

State legal counsel J.C. Fong, when speaking to reporters, did not provide the grounds for the decision. He said the judge will give his written judgement later in the day.
 
Petronas is seeking a stay on the grounds it is appealing Chin’s January 23 decision dismissing its application for his recusal from hearing the suit.

The plaintiffs filed a writ of summons and statement of claim on November 21 last year against Petronas for the recovery of the sales tax. – February 11, 2020.