Speaking to reporters following a briefing Zahari said, “No decision has yet been made yet on the second national oil consortium to prospect marginal oil fields. It is still with the government.”

“We don’t know if the present government will pursue the matter [but] the second national oil consortium cannot succeed without government support as it needs heavy investment,” he added.

Ranhill is one of the parties interested to be part of the consortium, which will focus on prospecting marginal oil and gas fields. It was mooted last September by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.