KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The government has reaffirmed its commitment to defending national sovereignty based on the 1979 map, rejecting any external maritime claims that contradict it, including those by China, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia has no overlapping maritime areas with China under the internationally recognised 1979 map.
He stressed that Putrajaya would not compromise on any sovereignty claims by other countries that fall outside the boundaries set out in the map.
“We stand by the 1979 map. Any claims made after that are neither acknowledged nor recognised. In fact, we have never held any negotiations with China on such claims,” Mohamad said during Question Time.
Responding to Senator Datuk Mustafa Musa's query on the technical and diplomatic issues involved in determining disputed borders between Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and China, to ensure more effective enforcement of maritime, air, and land zones and to prevent any aggression, he said all measures taken were grounded in international law to safeguard territorial integrity and border security.
The term “boundary delimitation negotiations” was more accurate than “dispute”, as Malaysia does not have hostile disagreements with its neighbours.
On Sabah, Mohamad reiterated that Malaysia has never recognised the Philippines’ claim, as the state became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 through a process of self-determination endorsed by the United Nations.
On Malaysia-Indonesia border issues, negotiations are progressing under the historical conventions of 1891, 1915, and 1928. In February last year, both countries signed two memoranda of understanding covering the Sabah-North Kalimantan sector, resolving a 58.3-kilometre land boundary along the western part of Sebatik Island.
With Singapore, efforts are focused on gradually resuming sovereign management of airspace in the southern portion of the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region, which is currently under Singapore’s technical control.
As for Thailand, 11 memoranda of understanding have been signed, resulting in the demarcation of 543 kilometres, or about 82 per cent, of the total land boundary.
Replying to Senator Datuk Bobbey Suan's supplementary query on legal challenges brought in European courts by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, he described the move as “forum shopping”, an attempt to secure favourable rulings in different jurisdictions.
The group first filed proceedings in a Spanish court, then in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and ultimately in Paris, France, after failing in earlier bids.
“The claims by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu are separate from those of the Philippine government, but we do not recognise either,” Mohamad said.
Malaysia’s recent success in overturning several European court decisions has been seen as a significant blow to the claimants and a boost to the country’s position in defending its territorial rights.
