Kuala Lampur, Dec. 16 -- Recent commentary has suggested that Petronas is dragging its feet in negotiations with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), or that it has chosen to prioritise foreign partnerships over its obligations to Sarawak. Such claims may be politically attractive, but they misdiagnose the real problem. The issue is not a lack of goodwill, nor a disregard for Sarawak's development ambitions. Rather, the difficulty lies in the substance of the demands currently placed before Petronas - demands which, if accepted in their present form, would undermine Malaysia's fiscal foundations, weaken the national energy framework, and strain the federation at a time when stability and predictability are critically needed.

Sarawak's aspi...