Chuah said disagreements between Putrajaya and states like Sarawak are a normal part of federalism and can even be useful. However, problems start when the existing legal frameworks are no longer seen as fair or legitimate, and when disputes are tied to identity politics. Petronas versus PetrosBoth Sarawak and Putrajaya have arguments to justify their respective claims to oil and gas on Malaysia’s continental shelf, said Chuah. He said the Federal Constitution actually anticipates these tensions and provides room for “legal pluralism”, rather than “harmonisation or unification”. “This system was ahead of its time, and it still offers a sound framework for managing disputes,” he said.