Malaysia rejects renewed Philippine claims on Sabah

 

MALAYSIA has reaffirmed its position that Sabah is an integral part of the federation and dismissed renewed calls from the Philippines to revive territorial claims.

The issue resurfaced after Philippine senator Robin Padilla urged president Ferdinand Marcos Jr to pursue negotiations over Sabah, citing the state’s oil and gas resources amid rising petroleum prices.

Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry stressed that Sabah’s status was settled decades ago through the Cobbold Commission and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, both endorsed by the United Nations.

“This is nothing new, as we have done so tens of times previously. To me, this is yet another attempt to divert attention from their internal problems,” he said to the media at his Hari Raya open house in Rantau.

He also said there was no basis for this, as Sabahans had themselves chosen to be part of the federation through the Cobbold Commission, followed by the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“Even the United Nations had recognised and endorsed this. So like I said, some politicians merely want to be seen to be championing certain issues for mileage or to cover up their own weaknesses,” he said.

While Malaysia will issue a diplomatic note rejecting the claim, authorities emphasised that the matter will not affect bilateral ties, as the Philippine government has already established a clear stance on Sabah.

The renewed rhetoric is seen as an attempt by certain politicians to gain mileage rather than a substantive policy shift. —  Focus Malaysia