KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Malaysia will send a protest note to the Philippines over its new maritime laws due to their overlapping claims in the South China Sea, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin said today.
The protest will follow a complaint also from China over the Philippines’ Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which Manila said was intended to strengthen its maritime claims and bolster its territorial integrity.
Mohamad said the government has reviewed the reference documents related to the Philippines’ laws and found they touch upon claims to Sabah.
“We will send a protest note today to demonstrate our commitment to defending Sabah’s sovereign rights and the sovereignty of our country,” Mohamad told Parliament.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Philippines has a dormant claim to eastern Sabah dating back to colonial times, but official statements on the issue are rare. Its Supreme Court in 2011 ruled that the claim has never been relinquished.
— Reuters
