KUALA LUMPUR: The claims made by the Philippines that Sabah is part of its territory is baseless and irrelevant, says Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (pic).
The Deputy Foreign Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the Malaysian Government's stance on the issue has always remained consistent and clear.
"Malaysia will never entertain, let alone recognise any form of foreign claim on Sabah," he told Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Bersatu-Beaufort) during Question Time on Thursday (Nov 12).
Azizah had asked the ministry to state the status of Sabah involving the claims made by the Philippines.
Kamarudin said Sabah had determined their rights in the exercise of self-determination to be part of Malaysia as stated in the Cobbold Commission.
The report, he added, had been submitted to the United Nations on Aug 1,1962, stating that more than two-thirds of the people of Sabah wanted to be part of Malaysia in 1963.
"On Sept 14,1963, the United Nation's secretary-general had informed the meeting that Sabah had chosen to be part of Malaysia," he said.
Kamarudin said every time the issue involving claims over Sabah resurfaces, Wisma Putra will take immediate action to counter and opposed it.
"Either in the form of protest note, media statement or summoning the ambassador of the Philippines to the ministry.
"Such a move will reaffirm Malaysia's strong position on the matter," he said.
The Malaysian Government, he added, is concerned and views the matter seriously and will take necessary action when the issue is raised.
“Malaysia will not bow down or budge in defending Sabah's position from any claim that tries to damage the state's sovereignty.
"Sabah is part of Malaysia," stressed Kamaruddin.
