KUCHING: The commercial value of Malaysian crude oil, particularly from Sarawak, is higher when utilised for high-value sectors compared to normal domestic use, thus providing more strategic economic returns to the state and the nation.

Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar said the quality of oil produced from Sarawak and several other states such as Sabah, Terengganu and Kelantan is better than oil from other regions, which have higher sulphur content.

He explained that the high-quality oil is more suited for use in high-tech industries such as aviation and large-scale machinery compared to daily use such as for ordinary vehicles.

“We do not give ‘empurau’ fish that cost RM1,500 per kilo to be eaten by cats, instead we serve the fish for important occasions.

“Like high-value ‘empurau’ fish, oil is not used arbitrarily, but instead reserved for special uses. Similarly, our oil, because of its premium quality, is not used for diesel, motorcycles or boats, but rather for sectors that require higher standards,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the 2026 Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri event at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex Atrium, on Wednesday.

Also present were Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.

In a related development, the Sarawak DUN Speaker stressed that the strength of the state's natural resources is among the main factors that contribute to Sarawak's economic resilience, thus strengthening the state's role in supporting the nation’s economic stability.

He added that Sarawak also has the potential to become an exporter of water resources in the future, thus expanding the state's strategic resource portfolio.

“Congratulations to the Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg for anticipating that one day oil will be replaced by hydrogen, and with this hydrogen, we can develop our state and nation,” he said. -UKASnews