7 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah's sovereignty will be upheld on Sulawesi Sea joint development
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has given its assurance that any decision regarding the proposed joint development with Indonesia in Blocks ND6 and ND7 in the Sulawesi Sea will take into account the rights and interests of Sabah.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the commitment aligns with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said the area in question falls within Malaysia's maritime territory, as outlined in the 1979 New Map and affirmed by the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, which granted sovereignty over Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia.
"I would like to draw the attention of this Honourable House to the use of the term 'Ambalat' by Indonesia. Their claim includes part of the Sulawesi Sea, covering Blocks ND6 and ND7.
"Malaysia maintains that these blocks lie within our sovereign territory, based on international law. Therefore, the more accurate reference, consistent with Malaysia's position, is the Sulawesi Sea – not 'Ambalat'," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan–Kota Belud) and Riduan Rubin (Independent–Tenom) regarding the joint development proposal in Blocks ND6 and ND7, also referred to as the Ambalat Block.
Both MPs had asked whether the approach would follow the model of the Malaysia–Thailand Joint Development Authority (MTJDA), especially in light of Sabah and Sarawak's rights under MA63.
Mohamad said the proposal, announced in a joint statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on June 27, was still in the preliminary stage and had not yet been finalised.
"The federal government also guarantees that representatives from the Sabah Government are always involved in any negotiations or technical meetings related to maritime boundaries, to ensure the state's sovereignty is safeguarded.
"We are also protecting the country's strategic interests and security, particularly in relation to natural resource rights, maritime control, and the management of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
He said maritime boundary negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia have been ongoing through Technical Meetings since 2005 and are reported to the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the Annual Leaders' Consultation between both nations.
"Malaysia remains committed to resolving overlapping claims with Indonesia peacefully, through diplomatic and legal means. Both parties are still exploring the feasibility of this cooperation, and nothing has been finalised."
