PRESS STATEMENT: Put
Refinery in Sabah, Not Elsewhere — Junz Wong Backs SOGIP as Best
Fit
KOTA
KINABALU, 10 April 2026: Warisan's Vice President Datuk Junz Wong has
called for Sabah to anchor its downstream energy ambitions within the
State, pointing to the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP)
as the most strategic and ready platform for a future oil refinery.
He
said Sabah already possesses the core infrastructure and ecosystem
needed to support such a development, including an established
industrial base, gas linkages, and phased port facilities - making
SOGIP a natural choice for expansion.
“Sabah
is not starting from zero. We already have SOGIP - a purpose-built
oil and gas industrial hub with the capacity to support large-scale
downstream development,” he pointed out.
The
Tanjung Aru Assemblyman noted that plans announced in February 2025
include a proposed refinery in SOGIP with a capacity of up to 150,000
barrels per day, alongside storage facilities capable of holding up
to three million cubic metres of crude oil and refined petroleum
products.
Located
approximately 12 km from Sipitang town and about 150 km from Kota
Kinabalu, SOGIP spans over 5,500 acres and is Sabah’s first
designated oil and gas and heavy industries industrial park,
strategically positioned along the deep waters of Brunei Bay.
Against
the backdrop of the ongoing global energy crisis - intensified by
geopolitical tensions involving Iran - Wong said the situation has
exposed Malaysia’s overreliance on oil and gas infrastructure
located far from Sabah, despite the State being a major contributor
to national energy production.
In
this context, he acknowledged recent calls, including those by former
Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh, to establish a refinery in
Labuan, but stressed that Sabah itself offers a more compelling and
strategic alternative.
“While
we recognise the logic behind proposals for Labuan, Sabah itself is
fully capable of hosting such a development. The priority must be to
ensure Sabah captures the full economic value of its resources,” he
said.
“It’s
not about location — it’s about Sabah getting its fair share.”
Wong
emphasised that any refinery initiative must be commercially viable,
transparently planned, and deliver tangible benefits to Sabahans,
including job creation, industrial growth, and stronger participation
in the downstream value chain.
“For
decades, Sabah has powered the nation - yet we remain largely
excluded from the value-added segment. This must change if we are
serious about fairness and long-term resilience,” he added.
He
urged the Federal Government to move beyond rhetoric and undertake a
transparent feasibility study, with full engagement of the Sabah
State Government and industry stakeholders.
“The
question is no longer whether Sabah deserves downstream capacity -
but whether there is the political will to realise it within Sabah
itself,” he concluded.
— END
—
Press
Statement Released by:
YB
Datuk Junz Wong
Party
Warisan Vice President cum N22 Tanjung Aru Assemblyman
Contact:
017-8188801
