Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	ISTANA TAMPAK SIRING, 
			BALI, INDONESIA
Tarikh/Date	:	10/08/2002
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE OFFICIAL INAUGURATION OF 
			INDONESIA'S GAS DELIVERY 
			TO MALAYSIA
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM 
		    

       It  is  a pleasure for me to be here in Bali today
   with  President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the  official
   inauguration  of Indonesia's Gas Delivery  to  Malaysia
   involving   our  respective  national  oil   companies,
   PETRONAS  and  PERTAMINA. What we are witnessing  today
   is  another  concrete  form  of  collaboration  between
   Malaysia and Indonesia.
   
   2.    The  theme  of  this  auspicious  event,  Growing
   Through  Partnership, certainly describes the strategic
   alliance  between PETRONAS and PERTAMINA. This  is  one
   example of a workable initiative for both countries  in
   the  oil and gas industry which is currently undergoing
   one  of its most challenging periods in recent history.
   Through  efforts like this we will be able  to  harness
   our  individual  strength to bring  about  more  mutual
   benefits  to our respective countries. Even  though  we
   have  been  enjoying  good  relations  at  all  levels,
   efforts    must   continue   to   be   taken    towards
   strengthening   our   competitiveness   through   joint
   initiatives.   Malaysia   firmly   believes   in    the
   philosophy of "prosper thy neighbour" as we are of  the
   opinion   that   what  benefits  our  neighbours   also
   benefits us, directly or indirectly.
   
   3.      In   the   case   of   the   PETRONAS-PERTAMINA
   collaboration, it is certainly a win-win  strategy  for
   both  parties.  Indonesia with  a  proven  natural  gas
   reserves  of 92.5 trillion cubic feet will  benefit  in
   the  form of revenue for its development while Malaysia
   will  be  assured  of an additional  secure  supply  to
   supplement  its needs. The West Natuna  gas  will  help
   Malaysia  to  meet the anticipated increase  in  demand
   not  only for energy but also as feedstock to fuel  our
   industrialisation process. This collaboration has  also
   enabled  both  countries  to  maximise  the  usage   of
   existing  individual  domestic  gas  infrastructure  by
   building   the  necessary  linkages  to   connect   the
   pipeline system.
   
   4.     Collaborations  such  as  this  will   help   in
   enhancing  the bilateral relationship between  Malaysia
   and  Indonesia in our effort to create more  meaningful
   economic  and  social benefits to  both  nations  which
   have  a  lot in common in terms of history and culture.
   Of  greater  significance, the success of this  venture
   will  serve as a catalyst to encourage similar ventures
   amongst  other  ASEAN member countries  in  the  energy
   sector.
   
   5.    The  emerging  Trans-ASEAN Gas  Pipeline  Project
   which  will  link  and  expand  ASEAN's  existing   gas
   infrastructure  to  create  a  truly  regional   energy
   market  is  a  good  example of  collaboration  amongst
   ASEAN  member countries. The foundation for the  Trans-
   ASEAN Gas Pipeline project was laid about a decade  ago
   with Malaysia's Peninsular Gas Utilisation project,  or
   PGU  project,  which connected Singapore to  the  grid.
   The   Trans-Thailand-Malaysia  pipeline  project  which
   will  tap  gas  resources  from  the  Malaysia-Thailand
   Joint  Development Area and linked to the PGU  pipeline
   is  underway,  bringing another ASEAN nation  into  the
   loop.  Further north, the completion of the Yadana  and
   Yetagun  Gas  projects, landing  gas  from  the  fields
   offshore   Myanmar   to  Thailand,   provides   another
   significant   fit  to  complete  the  Trans-ASEAN   Gas
   Pipeline  puzzle.  Interesting  developments  are  also
   taking  place  south  of the region.  The  West  Natuna
   project began supplying gas to Singapore in early  2001
   and  is  now  connected to Malaysia.  Recently  it  was
   announced  that the gas from Sumatra will be landed  in
   Singapore  by  2003 and Malaysia thereafter  while  the
   Malampaya-Comago  Batangas  Pipeline  project  in   the
   Philippines   will  also  provide  another  interesting
   prospect for the region's gas pipeline network.
   
   6.    These  are  all very exciting developments  which
   bring    the    Trans-ASEAN   Gas   Pipeline    project
   significantly  closer to reality.  With  determination,
   commitment  and  cooperation  of  all  involved,  I  am
   confident  that  the  missing  links  to  realise   the
   integrated  regional gas network will be put  in  place
   within  this decade. The renewed momentum in developing
   the  gas  pipeline  network in  South  East  Asia  will
   certainly  add  another  boost to  the  region's  fast-
   growing  gas  market.  Additionally,  deregulation  and
   liberalisation in the power and downstream  sectors  in
   the  previously closed countries will also pave the way
   for greater investments as well as new investors.
   
   7.    Once  all the linkages are in place to facilitate
   the  transportation of gas across the borders of member
   countries,  I  am  confident that we will  be  able  to
   fully   realise  ASEAN's  vision  of  achieving  energy
   security and sustainability of supply by 2020. This  in
   turn  will  promote  sustainable  development  in   the
   region   and  generate  substantial  spin-off  business
   opportunities   in   supporting  industries,   creating
   employment opportunities, seeding successful  homegrown
   entrepreneurs   while  enhancing  our   competitiveness
   globally. With economic growth and development, we  can
   be assured of stability in the region as a whole.
   
   8.    There  are a lot of other opportunities in  ASEAN
   for  us  to  take advantage of.  For example,  PETRONAS
   and  PERTAMINA together with PetroVietnam had signed  a
   contract  earlier this year to explore and develop  oil
   and  gas  in  Vietnam with plans to  form  ventures  to
   explore  blocks in Malaysia and Indonesia.  Apart  from
   that  Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have  also  agreed
   to  cooperate  on production and shipping of  liquefied
   natural  gas  in  order to maximise plant  availability
   and  ensure  continuous and secure supply to customers.
   We  need  to  look at more such cooperative initiatives
   that  will bring about mutual benefits to our countries
   apart from strengthening our resilience as we face  one
   of  the most challenging periods in the global oil  and
   gas industry.
   
   9.    Apart  from the resources, this region  has  been
   blessed  with capable people who are willing to  learn,
   absorb  and  adapt to new technologies  and  ideas.  We
   also  share  a  common aspiration  to  prove  that  the
   people  of  developing nations have both the capability
   and  the  will  to successfully venture  into  projects
   like  this. The commitment and dedication shown by  the
   respective  Project Team members has  enabled  PETRONAS
   and  PERTAMINA to complete this project  in  less  than
   two  years  in collaboration with CONOCO.  All  parties
   have  been  able to combine their capability, resources
   and  technological expertise for mutual benefit. It  is
   a  testimony  to  the capability of our  people  to  be
   involved at the highest level of technology.
   
   10.    On  this  note,  I  would  like  to  thank   Her
   Excellency  President  Megawati Soekarnoputri  and  the
   Government  of  Indonesia for the  strong  support  and
   assistance  in making this collaboration a reality.  To
   PETRONAS  and PERTAMINA I say Syabas and  I  hope  this
   success   will   spur  both  NOCs   to   explore   more
   opportunities   together,   within   and   beyond   our
   respective shores.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri