‘We will defend every inch of Sabah’

Ready for action: Najib, Musa and other officials looking at the Royal Malaysian Navy fleet at the Tun Sharifah Rodziah naval base in Semporna.

LAHAD DATU: Prime Minister Da­tuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has dismissed talks of the new leadership in Manila pursuing Philippines’ claim over Sabah, vowing to defend every inch of the state’s sovereignty.

Speaking to reporters after a ground-breaking ceremony for a new Helicopter Forward Base at the airport here, Najib said no one could stake a claim on Sabah that had gained its independence through Malaysia with the agreement of the United Nations in 1963.