KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s treaties with Indonesia regarding maritime boundaries do not involve territories still under dispute, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim clarified in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Question Time, Anwar explained that the agreement with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, only concerned areas where both countries are in agreement over boundaries.
He also said Malaysia entered into the treaty with Indonesia after consultation with the Maritime Department, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the National Security Council, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the Survey and Mapping Department.
“The problem here is that some of us did not read the treaty and joint statement.
“The treaty does not include areas which are still under dispute, for example, Pulau Sebatik near Sabah and the limits near the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor,” Anwar said.
The Tambun MP was answering a question by Datuk Seri Takyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PN), who asked if Malaysia’s sovereignty would be affected by the treaties.
On June 8, it was reported that Malaysia entered into two agreements with Indonesia settling a dispute over maritime borders in the southernmost part of the Melaka Straits and the Sulu Sea. They were signed during Jokowi’s official visit to Malaysia.
The two agreements are the “Treaty Relating to the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries in the Southernmost Part of the Melaka Straits” and the “Treaty between Malaysia and Indonesia Relating to the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries in the Sulawesi Sea.”
Takiyuddin also asked a supplementary question to get clarification on Putrajaya’s stance regarding a boundary agreement signed between Singapore and Indonesia, where Malaysia also has territorial claims.
Anwar said that the agreement between Indonesia and Singapore was signed in 2009 and Malaysia has voiced its strong opposition to it ever since.
The prime minister then said matters pertaining to Malaysia and Indonesia should not be politicised, stressing that while maintaining good relationships with its neighbours, Putrajaya will not compromise on national interests.
“Within these six months, Jokowi agreed that our relationship can be improved.
“Our relationship with this country we consider a friend is important for strategic, cultural, economic and religious reasons.
“But does this mean we will give up our interests? No, we won’t compromise,” Anwar said. – The Vibes, June 13, 2023
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