Malaysia will defend sovereignty against any territorial claims by Philippines, says Tok Mat

SEREMBAN: Malaysia, as an independent and sovereign nation, will fight any claim to any of her territory, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Replying to a question on the move by the Philippines, which recently submitted a diplomatic note to the United Nations to reclaim a territory in Sabah waters, the Foreign Minister said Malaysia had also done likewise to safeguard its interest.

“We submitted a diplomatic note on the matter to the United Nations in response to what the Philippines did.

“In their note, the Philippines is claiming that its maritime border runs through Sabah and if this is used as a yardstick, then they are claiming that Sabah belongs to them,” he said when met after opening the Rembau Umno annual general meeting here.

On July 4, it was reported that Putrajaya submitted a diplomatic note to the United Nations to reject the Philippines’ bid to reclaim a territory in Sabah waters.

According to the South China Morning Post report, the Philippines’ submission was about reclaiming seabed territory.

Manila had registered its entitlement to an extended continental shelf in the western Palawan region of the South China Sea, defining the seabed areas over which it has sovereign and exclusive rights to exploit its natural resources.

The claim has significant political and economic implications for both nations given the region’s considerable oil and gas resources.

Malaysia, according to the report, has “categorically” rejected the Philippines’ filing as this clearly disregards Malaysia’s indisputable sovereignty over the state of Sabah.

Mohamad said Sabah and Sarawak became a part of the Malaysian Federation decades ago and that all leaders then had agreed to this.

“This (formation of the federation) was done in a proper manner and even recognised by the United Nations.

“We are an independent and a sovereign nation and no one can just come and stake a claim on any of our territories,” he said.

He said Malaysia was also prepared for the matter to be decided at the international level, including the possibility of it being taken to the International Court of Justice to be deliberated.

He also expressed hope that the matter would not cause any rift with the Philippines as both countries enjoyed good bilateral relations.