PHL envoy's comment on Sabah claim draws Malaysia's ire

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday decried the statement made by the Philippines' envoy to Kuala Lumpur that Manila had not dropped its claim over Sabah, arguing that such an assertion over the resource-rich territory had "no basis."

According to Malaysian media reported that on February 21, at a press conference after paying a courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal Shafie, Ambassador Charles Jose said the Philippines maintained its claim over Sabah.

Jose, however, said the Philippine government would not actively pursue its claim at the moment because its focus was on providing assistance to thousands of undocumented workers in Sabah, the reports added.

"The Foreign Ministry has continued to reiterate Malaysia’s position, namely the claims on Sabah are without basis," Malaysia said in a statement on Feb. 23.

Sabah, located south of Mindanao, is territorially disputed by the Philippines and Malaysia. A Philippine claim for sovereignty over Sabah has lain dormant for decades. But Malaysia continues to yearly pay rent to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, who claim to be the descendants of the original Filipino sultan who had control over the territory for centuries.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry maintained that Sabah had been recognized by the United Nations and the international community as part of Malaysia since the formation of the Malaysian Federation on September 16, 1963.

"As such, Malaysia does not recognize and will not entertain any claims by any party on Sabah," the Foreign Ministry said.

Every year, hundreds of Filipinos enter Malaysian-controlled Sabah through Mindanao in search of a better life. Most of the undocumented Filipinos in Sabah hail from Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and other far-flung provinces in the south that are among the Philippines’ poorest, and which are constantly plagued by war. — DVM, GMA News