Sabah police ready for any threats amid territorial dispute in Malaysian waters

KOTA KINABALU: Security agencies in Sabah remain vigilant against any potential threat amid territorial disputes of Malaysian territory.

State Police Chief Comm Datuk Jauteh Dikun pointed out it was not a case of reacting when it comes to matters of sovereignty.

“We are always ready,” he told reporters at the Sabah police contingent headquarters in Kepayan here on Tuesday (July 9).

“Security agencies remain prepared to address any issue arising,” he added.

So far, he said, there has been no information on any imminent threat.

“As it is, we are monitoring traditional threats such as kidnap-for-ransom groups or the Abu Sayyaf Group.

“But in any case, we are ready 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days in a year,” said Comm Jauteh.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had last Sunday (July 7) said that Malaysia will fight any claim to any of her territory as it is an independent and sovereign nation.

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

He said Malaysia had 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 news 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 disregards Malaysia’s indisputable sovereignty over Sabah.