Latest news with #Ambalat
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Rafizi backs plans to develop Ambalat with Indonesia
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said the Ambalat block contains significant oil and gas reserves, which is especially crucial considering Petronas's declining output. PETALING JAYA : Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli says he supports Malaysia's plans to work with Indonesia to develop the disputed Ambalat area off the east coast of Borneo, amid claims by Perikatan Nasional that such joint ventures could jeopardise the nation's sovereignty. In a statement on X, Rafizi highlighted the importance of such joint development plans to the country's coffers. He said the Ambalat block contains significant oil and gas reserves, which is especially crucial considering Petronas's declining output. The Pandan MP said similar exploration efforts between Malaysia and Thailand in areas over which they had overlapping maritime claims had paid off handsomely as these projects now produce nearly one-third of Peninsular Malaysia's gas supply. 'Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto have, in principle, agreed to explore joint development between Malaysia and Indonesia to unlock the oil potential in Ambalat. 'I agree and support this. In fact, this was one of the matters I brought up when I was in the Cabinet. 'The federal government must engage in simultaneous discussions with both the Indonesian government and the Sabah government to ensure the state's interests are protected and that a fair share of the profits goes to the people there. 'But if this becomes a political football and the joint development plan stalls, the country and the people, from Sabah to Perlis, will continue to lose billions of ringgit in revenue every year at a time when our oil revenues are already in decline.' Malaysia and Indonesia have had overlapping claims over the waters of the Sulawesi Sea known as the Ambalat block – located between East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and southeast Sabah – since Malaysia published a map in 1979 showing the maritime border area within Malaysian waters. Anwar and Prabowo announced plans last week to jointly develop the Ambalat block in the Sulawesi Sea while continuing legal and diplomatic discussions on maritime sovereignty over the 15,000 sq km area. Yesterday, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, who served as home minister under former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob, claimed that a joint development agreement with a foreign country claiming maritime sovereignty over the area to be developed could jeopardise Malaysia's national interests. Muhyiddin, meanwhile, said developing the Ambalat block without a clear ruling on maritime borders by the International Court of Justice or other recognised legal bodies could set a dangerous precedent and this might be used in future to undermine Malaysia's claims over this and other disputed areas. In his post on X, Rafizi said that while PN had the right to oppose such plans, such objections should only be raised after examining the full merits of the case. 'Don't just oppose (such plans) blindly,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PN calls for more details on Ambalat development plan with Indonesia
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said rushing into a joint development agreement with a foreign country claiming maritime sovereignty over the area to be developed could jeopardise Malaysia's interests. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional (PN) has called for clarity on the country's plans to work with Indonesia to jointly develop the disputed Ambalat area off the east coast of Borneo, said to hold the world's largest crude oil reserves. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto announced plans last week to jointly develop the Ambalat block in the Sulawesi Sea while continuing legal and diplomatic discussions on maritime sovereignty in the 15,000 sq km area. In a statement today, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said the announcement appeared to contradict several previous comments from Anwar about the Ambalat block and Sulawesi Sea Treaty when they were raised in Parliament. 'Rushing into a joint development agreement with a foreign country which is claiming maritime sovereignty (over the area to be developed) could jeopardise Malaysia's national interests,' said Hamzah, who served as home minister under former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 'PN demands that the complete details of the joint development in Ambalat and the Sulawesi Sea Treaty documents be debated in Parliament. The rakyat have the right to be informed about it.' The Sulawesi Sea Treaty, signed in Putrajaya on June 8, 2023 in conjunction with then Indonesian president Joko Widodo's working visit to Malaysia, came under scrutiny after it was claimed that Malaysia was relinquishing its rights to the oil-rich Ambalat block. However, Wisma Putra said that the treaty did not involve the Ambalat block's maritime borders. Malaysia and Indonesia have had overlapping claims over the waters of the Sulawesi Sea known as the Ambalat block – located between East Kalimantan, Indonesia, and southeast Sabah – since Malaysia published a map in 1979 showing the maritime border area within Malaysian waters. Meanwhile, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that any deal involving disputed land or maritime areas should wait until the borders are clearly determined by the International Court of Justice or other recognised legal bodies. The PN chairman said that proceeding without a clear ruling could set a dangerous precedent and might be used in the future to undermine Malaysia's claims over the same or other areas. Muhyiddin added that such actions could harm the country's rights and dignity, as the risks involved are significant and could have long-term consequences for the nation.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
With Ambalat pact, Indonesia and Malaysia seek to bridge territorial differences
The decision by Indonesia and Malaysia to jointly develop the resource-rich Ambalat sea block signals a pragmatic step towards defusing a decades-old territorial stand-off, even as legal uncertainties over sovereignty remain unresolved. The agreement was announced last week during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim 's visit to Indonesia, where he met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to discuss maritime and land border disputes, investment, and regional conflicts, among others. Prabowo said he and Anwar had agreed to 'seek mutually beneficial solutions' over Ambalat. Located east of Borneo, Ambalat is believed to hold vast oil and gas reserves. 'While we resolve the legal aspects, we will begin economic cooperation under what we call joint development,' Prabowo said in the presidential palace in Jakarta on Friday. 'Whatever potential is found in these waters, we will exploit it together fairly,' he added. Anwar said there was 'no obstacle' for Indonesia and Malaysia to start their economic cooperation in Ambalat, including by setting up 'a joint development authority' to manage the block.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Malaysia, Indonesia to restart annual talks on July 29 after seven-year pause, says Fahmi
PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today said that Malaysia and Indonesia are set to resume their annual consultations on July 29, following a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta last Friday. He said the consultation process is traditionally seen as an important platform for both countries' leaders to exchange views and set the strategic direction of bilateral cooperation. 'Prime Minister Anwar and his delegation are expected to return to Jakarta on July 29 for the consultation session, as well as related events involving the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta. 'Several long-standing issues that have been under discussion for some time will be brought to the table,' he said during the ministry's weekly press conference here. Among the matters likely to be raised is the Ambalat maritime boundary dispute, which has remained unresolved for over two to three decades. Fahmi noted that while it is not a new issue, it is expected to be part of the upcoming discussions. 'As the prime minister has noted, there are many factors to consider, including complex technical aspects. 'Therefore, the consultation at the end of July is anticipated to serve as a starting point,' he said. He added that the last Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultation was held in 2017.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kitingan questions Ambalat deal: Was Sabah consulted on joint development plan with Indonesia?
KOTA KINABALU, July 1 — Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent statement in Indonesia, agreeing to jointly develop the disputed Ambalat maritime region near Sabah's maritime borders. Kitingan, who is also Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president, said that it would be an insult if the announcement was made without prior consultation with the state government. 'I am disappointed to know this is happening, too. Ambalat has always been considered part of Sabah's territorial waters. 'If this decision was truly made without consulting Sabah, then it is not good. It's another way of bypassing Sabah's rights. And we need an explanation,' he said. Kitingan said he would be seeking clarification formally and will consider bringing the matter up in Parliament. 'We are on our way toward finding out, from now until next month. Let's see what explanation is given first,' he said. It was reported that Anwar said Malaysia and Indonesia should go ahead to jointly develop the disputed oil-rich Ambalat area off the east coast of Sabah without waiting to solve legal and regulatory obstacles. 'If we wait for everything to be finalised, it could take decades,' he was quoted saying after talks with Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto. Malaysia and Indonesia have overlapping territorial claims on the 15,000 sq km Ambalat sea block, which is believed to hold significant crude oil reserves. In 2023, deputy foreign affairs minister Mohamad Alamin said discussions about the Sulawesi Sea Treaty signed by Malaysia and Indonesia in June 2023 would not be held publicly to safeguard the sensitivity of the matter. Sabah has been fighting hard to regain the continental shelf and territorial maritime area, one of the issues to be discussed as part of the state's rights in the Malaysian Agreement 1963. Previously, Kitingan had said that under the Land Ordinance (Sabah Cap.68), submerged land, including the seabed up to the continental shelf, falls under Sabah's jurisdiction. Land is a state matter under the State List in the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which includes land tenure, permits, and licences for mining activities. Therefore, he said Sabah's rights to manage and utilise its continental shelf, including the ownership and management of oil and gas resources, should be indisputable. In August 2023, chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said that Sabah remains firm in rejecting Indonesia's claim over the sovereignty of the Ambalat area in the Sulawesi Sea. He said the state government will continue to defend Ambalat, which is known to be rich in oil and gas resources, as part of Sabah and Malaysia's territory.
