KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Malaysia will, through diplomatic channels, continue to urge the Philippine government to consider opening a consulate office in Sabah to facilitate the provision of consular services to its citizens in the state.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the move is crucial to addressing documentation issues involving Filipinos in Sabah, thereby reducing the government’s operational burden in enforcement, health and education.
He revealed that so far, Manila has refused to set up a consulate in Sabah, due to concerns that the move would affect the status of its claim on Sabah.
“The Malaysian government will continue to explore all avenues and submit notes as well as consistently hold discussions at the senior officers’ level to ensure the Philippines gives priority to the welfare of its people through the establishment of a permanent consulate,” he said when winding up the Foreign Ministry’s debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Negara today.
Lukanisman was replying to the current status of the proposed establishment of a Philippine consulate in Sabah, which was raised by Senators Datuk Bobbey Suan and Tan Sri Anifah Aman, and which Malaysia had previously mooted.
He said that, for example, the Foreign Ministry had raised the issue of a lack of mobile Philippine consular services in Sabah during the meeting between Malaysian and Philippine top diplomats in July 2024 and the 8th Malaysia-Philippines Joint Commission Meeting on October 15, 2024.
Regarding the Philippines’ claim to Sabah, Lukanisman emphasises that Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, does not recognise and will not entertain any demands by any party on any part of or the entire Sabah.
“Sabah’s status in Malaysia has been affirmed by history, international law, and the will of its own people. As such, any external narratives will not undermine the integrity of the territory and our commitment to safeguarding the security and well-being of the people of Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lukanisman also touched on the proposed setting up of an Indian consulate in Sabah, adding that the ministry is conducting comprehensive engagement sessions with the Sabah government and the relevant agencies.
He said the presence of the consulate could strengthen trade, investment and tourism ties, since India is Malaysia’s 11th-largest trading partner globally, with about 1.5 million visitors arriving from the country last year.
On Palestine, Lukanisman said that as of January 2026, the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP) under the Foreign Ministry collected RM113 million in contributions from Malaysians and various parties.
“Over RM86 million has been channelled to United Nations agencies, such as UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees), UN-OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), and various international bodies for the provision of food, medical supplies, education and infrastructure repairs in Palestine,” Lukanisman added.
