KOTA KINABALU – The Malaysian government should send the Philippine government a strong diplomatic message to set up a consulate in Sabah and end claims by the so-called heirs of the defunct sultanate of Sulu, said former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.
He said a consulate would symbolise mutual respect between Sabah and the Philippines of each other’s sovereignty, which would tell the latter’s people “to forget their fanciful claim on Sabah”.
“By setting up a Philippine consulate in Sabah, the Philippines would be telling its own people to forget their fanciful claim on Sabah. (The consulate would show that) it is also in their own interests to stop their futile behaviour trying to claim Sabah.
“Let the good neighbourly win-win relationship between Malaysian Sabah and Philippine Bangsamoro prosper together in peace, and let Philippine citizens residing in Sabah have the badly needed consular services that have been denied to them by their own government (of the Philippines),” he said in a recent statement.
Speaking to The Vibes later, the president of Sabah Progressive Party said the Malaysian government should pitch to the Philippines how they can benefit if a consulate is set up in Sabah.
Yong said these benefits include mutual respect for each other's sovereignty, consular services for Philippine citizens in Sabah, enhancing economic relations, removing the thorn in the flesh in the bilateral relations, and so on.
“(Malaysia should) identify the leverage we have. For example, we should (work together in) combating cross-border crimes, promoting trade between Sabah and the southern Philippines, and giving mutual support at international forays such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where the Philippines need Malaysia’s support.
“(All these things will) get the Philippines off our back,” he said. – The Vibes, July 2, 2023
