KUALA LUMPUR – The territorial claim originating from the Philippines over Sabah was not discussed extensively when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met with top Malaysian leaders here, multiple Filipino media sites have reported.
Marcos met Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Malaysia earlier this week.
Marcos acknowledged the Sabah issue could not be avoided but it was only discussed briefly during the meeting, reported CNN.
“That will always be mentioned. It can’t be avoided, because we do have an outstanding claim that we are not withdrawing…but it’s clear to all parties involved that the issue can’t be decided on now,” he reportedly said before flying back to Manila.
In March, Marcos had said that the two countries’ foreign affairs chiefs would meet over the matter.
However, in the latest media interview, he said since the longstanding dispute requires a “much larger and much more involved” discussion, both parties have opted to focus on different topics for the time being, including fostering collaboration in various areas like trade.
“The consensus is that we just talk about everything else…there’s a tacit agreement, at the very least, that we talk about all things that are solvable. So when the time comes, perhaps we will come back to the issue. I’m sure it will come up again,” Marcos was quoted as saying.
The Sulu sultanate, which no longer holds power, signed a lease agreement in 1878 with the now defunct private firm British North Borneo Company over a part of Sabah, which Malaysia absorbed after the British colonisers left.
Manila argues that Sabah was merely on lease to Malaysia by the sultanate which had ceded sovereignty over the area to the Philippines.
The dispute stems from the term “pajak” in the 1878 deed of cession written in Arabic. The Philippines maintains it means lease, while Malaysia says it translates to cession. – The Vibes, July 29, 2023
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