SABAH UMNO chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has urged for the state to be included in any negotiations involving the disputed Ambalat maritime zone, warning that Sabah’s sovereignty should not be politicised ahead of the state election.
Bung said while he recognises the sensitive timing with the state polls looming, national interests must take precedence over short-term political gain.
“Sabah has the right to be involved in any framework of joint negotiations concerning the Ambalat dispute.
“However, I urge all parties to refrain from turning this sovereignty issue into political fodder. Matters concerning state and national interests must be handled responsibly,” he said in a statement.
He said Umno Sabah will continue to raise the matter through formal channels, including the Dewan Rakyat and the Sabah Assembly, to ensure the interests of Sabahans, particularly those living closest to the Ambalat region, are protected.
Bung also cautioned against fuelling public confusion or whipping up local sentiment for political purposes, describing diplomacy as the most rational path to resolve overlapping maritime claims.
“The Ambalat issue should not be excessively politicised to the point it causes unnecessary public confusion.
“Dragging maritime boundaries into the arena of political sentiment will only create polemics without offering any real solutions,” he said.
The Kinabatangan MP urged the federal government to involve Sabah in the upcoming Malaysia–Indonesia Annual Consultation in Jakarta, set for July 29, where strategic discussions on Ambalat are expected to take place.
“This meeting should open the door for Sabah’s participation to ensure the state’s interests are formally and clearly recognised in any decisions concerning joint development,” he said.
Bung added that safeguarding sovereignty and ensuring Sabahans receive fair benefit from Ambalat negotiations must go hand in hand.
“We must remain rational. We must stand united in defending national sovereignty, while making sure Sabahans gain what is rightfully theirs,” he said.
The Ambalat Block, located off the east coast of Sabah, is part of a long-standing maritime dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia dating back to 1979.
Malaysia and Indonesia maintain competing territorial claims over the Ambalat sea block, spanning more than 15,000sqkm and the status of Ambalat remains unresolved in international law.
The Ambalat Block is located off Sabah’s east coast, close to Pulau Sipadan and Ligitan — two islands granted to Malaysia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2002.
This ruling has since been used to support Malaysia’s claim that the surrounding waters, including Ambalat, fall within Sabah’s maritime boundaries.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a joint press conference with Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto that both Malaysia and Indonesia to jointly develop the Ambalat Block, without waiting for the legal resolution on the matter.
“If we wait to finish it, it might take another two decades. So, let’s take advantage of this time to get results to benefit both nations and defend the fate of our people in an area that is quite far at the border,” he reportedly said during his visit to Jakarta at the end of June.
Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has urged caution over Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks on the Ambalat Block, saying the matter should be properly understood before any conclusions are drawn.
“It’s better to get clarification from the federal government first, so we know the full facts rather than just speculate,” he said.
Masidi noted that the Prime Minister’s comments lacked specific details and could lead to confusion if misinterpreted.
“We should be clear on the facts before making any public statements,” he added.
Masidi said the issue may be raised in Parliament soon.
“I’m sure our MPs will ask about it,” he said.
Several Sabah leaders had earlier voiced concern over the matter, stating the likeliness of Federal Government bypassing Sabah over matters related to territorial rights.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, among others, has expressed disappointment over Sabah being left out of discussions involving its territorial interests. - July 4, 2025
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