NO PHILIPPINES, SABAH BELONGS TO US: Malaysia says won't entertain Aquino's claims on Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government does not recognise nor will it entertain any claims by any party on Sabah, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said Sabah had been recognised by the United Nations (UN) and the international community as part of Malaysia since September 16, 1963.

“Following remarks made by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III on the republic’s claim on Sabah in an interview on May 15, the ministry had summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur on May 19.

“Following the meeting, the ministry issued a press release on the matter on May 25. The ministry also again met representatives from the Philippine Embassy on June 3 to reaffirm once again Malaysia’s stand on the issue,” he said in response to Senator Chin Su Phin’s question.

Replying to a supplementary question from Senator S Nallakaruppan on the possibility of the Philippines raising the issue again on the Sabah claim, Hamzah said the Philippines had tried to drop its claim on Sabah at the 1977 Asean conference held in Kuala Lumpur.

“However, this is difficult to carry out … that’s why this claim still lingers with the existence of their 1977 constitution that claims Sabah is still under the Philippines,” he said.

– BERNAMA