KUCHING: The High Court here has dismissed Petronas' application for a judicial commissioner to recuse himself from hearing the Sarawak government's lawsuit against the national oil corporation for not paying the 5% state sales tax on petroleum products. Judicial Commissioner Christopher Chin said there was no real possibility of perceived bias by fair-minded observers of whatever decision he would make in the case. This was because Chin was a judicial commissioner and his tenure was subject to confirmation by the Prime Minister, who is also the person with ultimate control over the national oil corporation. "I wish to make clear that my client applied to recuse the judicial commissioner on the ground that the situation gives rise to an appearance of conflict of interest. Malik also said Petronas would apply for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.

Source: The Star January 23, 2020 04:52 UTC