MALAYSIA and Brunei have reached a formal agreement to complete the demarcation of the F–G sector of their shared land border by 31 May 2027, following more than a decade of joint negotiations.
The commitment was announced during the 26th Annual Leaders' Consultation (ALC) held in Putrajaya on Wednesday, involving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei.
In a joint statement, both leaders reaffirmed that the settlement of the F–G sector would be guided by the Water Catchment Principle, as set out in the 2024 Exchange of Notes (EON).
To date, joint surveying and demarcation works have covered 214.638 kilometres, or approximately 41 per cent of the total Malaysia–Brunei land boundary since the process commenced in 2012.
According to the current timeline, Sectors E–F are expected to be concluded in 2025, followed by A–B in 2026, and F–G by 2027.
To maintain momentum, the two governments have also agreed in principle to consider a Phase Two Memorandum of Understanding for border demarcation, with the aim of completing 66 per cent of the overall process by 2028.
Anwar and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah further directed the Joint Land Boundary Committee to accelerate progress using a constructive and cooperative approach consistent with long-standing bilateral understanding.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to existing agreements, including the 2009 Exchange of Letters (EOL), the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding on joint surveying procedures, and five previous land boundary treaties. They underscored that any remaining unmapped territory will only be resolved based on the Water Catchment Principle.
Separately, the leaders also witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding in the health sector. The document was signed by Malaysia’s Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Brunei’s Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Isham Jaafar.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is in Malaysia for a three-day state visit at the invitation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim. He is accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and senior Bruneian officials.
Brunei was Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner within ASEAN in 2024, with bilateral trade valued at RM7.53 billion (USD 1.77 billion). From January to June 2025, bilateral trade stood at USD 690 million (RM3.02 billion), comprising USD 500 million in Malaysian exports and USD 190 million in imports. - August 27, 2025
