Malaysia’s stance on Sabah absolute, the Philippines told

Sabah has been recognised by the UN as part of Malaysia since 1963

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s stance in regard to the Philippines and their claim on the ownership of Sabah will not change, according to deputy foreign minister Hamzah Zainuddin.

The United Nations has recognised the state as being part of Malaysia since 1963, something that Malaysia intends to stick to.

In a report by The Sun, Hamzah was responding to a question by Senator Chin Su Phin, who had asked the Foreign Ministry to state the government’s stance on Philippines president Benigno Aquino’s refusal to drop the country’s claim on Sabah.

“The Malaysian government has repeatedly stressed that it will neither recognise nor entertain any claims by any parties on Sabah,” Hamzah said to Parliament, adding that Malaysia would not waver from its stance that Sabah is a part of sovereign Malaysia.

He also said that the Foreign Ministry had summoned Philippines’s charge d’affaires Medardo G Macaraig and the Philippines ambassador to Malaysia to discuss and reiterate the matter.

Among recent episodes in the territorial dispute currently surrounding Sabah is the Lahad Datu incursion by 235 militants in February 2013, led by self-proclaimed successor to the Sulu Sultanate Jamalul Kiram III to reclaim the state, and which saw the death of ten members of Malaysian security forces before the militants were defeated in March.

In other news, the government has warned that it will apply to extradite Malaysians living abroad who speak ill of the country, according to a reply by deputy home minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar yesterday to Senator Abdul Shukor Mohd Sultan.

He said that they would face the full force of the Malaysian law and justice system, and that they would be hit with the Sedition Act or sections under the Penal Code.

Wan Junaidi slammed those making statements that would damage the country’s image abroad, and who would attempt to seek the help of foreign nations to help with local criminal offences.

“These actions are carried out for political mileage and to appear as a ‘hero’ before the people as if the government has not done anything to address the issues they raise,” he said, explaining that these statements when not directed to the right channels could jeopardise Malaysia’s good relations with the global community.