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Malaysia thumbs down Philippines’ claim over Sabah


The Malaysian government is rejecting the Philippines’ territorial claim over Sabah through a note verbale submitted to the United Nations (UN).

In its note verbale submitted by the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteres, dated August 27, Kuala Lumpur said that “Malaysia has never recognized the Republic of the Philippines' claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo.”

 

 

Citing the Judgement of the International Court of Justice dated October 23, 2001 in the “Case Concerning Sovereignty over Pu/au Ligitan and Pu/au Sipadan and the Application by the Philippines for Permission to Intervene,” Malaysia stressed that “the Republic of the Philippines' claim to North Borneo clearly has no basis under international law.”

The Southeast Asian country also cited the separate opinion of Judge Ad-hoc Thomas Franck, in which he stated:

 

“in light of the clear exercise by the people of North Borneo of their right to self-determination, it cannot matter whether this Court, in any interpretation it might give to any historic instrument or efficacy, sustains or not the Philippines claim to historic title. Modern international law does not recognise the survival of a right of sovereignty based solely on historic title: not in any event, after an exercise of self-determination conducted in accordance with the requisites of international law, the bona tides of which has received international recognition by the political organs of the United Nations. Against this, historic claims and feudal pre-colonial titles are mere relics of another international legal era, one that ended with the setting of the sun on the age of colonial imperium.”

In July, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. commented on a tweet by the US Embassy on the assistance given to Filipinos repatriated from Sabah, Malaysia and are now staying in Zamboanga City and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

“Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines,” Locsin said.

In response, Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein called Locsin’s tweet as “irresponsible statement that affects bilateral ties” between Philippines and Malaysia.

Both Locsin and Hussein have summoned the respective envoys representing Manila and Kuala Lumpur over their exchange.

Nevertheless, Malacañang said Philippines will continue to pursue good relations with Malaysia despite their long-running dispute over resource-rich Sabah. 

Apart from Philippines’ claim over Sabah, Malaysia also “categorically rejects” the “excessive maritime claims” arising from the Kalayaan Island Group as asserted by Manila “as they have not conformed to Part IV of UNCLOS 1982 and have no basis under international law.” -MDM, GMA News

Tags: sabah, malaysia
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