MALAYSIA will continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, following the enactment of two maritime laws by the Philippines last year.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia has lodged a formal protest against the Philippine Maritime Zone Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, citing their implications for Malaysia’s maritime zones and features as defined under the Malaysia New Map 1979.
He said the legislation touches directly on matters of Malaysia’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests.
“Sabah is part of Malaysia and this is recognised by the international community. The people of Sabah have already exercised their right to self-determination, the status of Sabah being in the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
Mohamad said the position was firmly grounded in historical and legal processes recognised by the United Nations.
“The Cobbold Commission report dated Aug 1, 1962 to the United Nations stated that more than two-thirds of the people of Sabah chose to join Malaysia in 1963,” he said.
He added that international recognition followed shortly after.
“On Sept 14, 1963, the Secretary-General of the United Nations reported to the UN General Assembly that the people of Sabah supported Sabah’s entry into the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
Mohamad was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Gapari (GRS–Keningau) in Parliament on Monday.
He explained that on Nov 7, 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr signed into law two maritime statutes, namely the Philippine Maritime Zone Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act 2024 is a new law enacted by the Philippines to administer and enforce designated archipelagic sea lanes for the passage of foreign ships and aircraft through waters claimed by the republic.
On the same day, the Philippine president also approved the Philippine Maritime Zone Act 2024, which declares maritime zones claimed to fall under the jurisdiction of the Philippines.
Mohamad said that based on the coordinates stated in Presidential Decree No. 1596 of 1978, the declared maritime areas were found to encroach upon Malaysia’s maritime zones north of Sabah, as delineated in the Malaysia New Map 1979.
He stressed that Malaysia’s objections were made on principled grounds to safeguard its territorial integrity and maritime rights, while remaining consistent with international legal frameworks governing maritime boundaries and state conduct. - February 10, 2026
