Malaysia and Brunei finalising land border talks, says Tok Mat

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Brunei are negotiating to finalise an agreement or a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding land border demarcation between the two countries covering a distance of 528.45km.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said for the time being, marking and measurement works in the field have been successfully carried out by both countries covering 175.96 km or 33.3% of the entire border distance.

"Both parties are trying to resolve the demarcation issue based on the agreed timeline, which is 2034 at the latest.

"Malaysia will continue to negotiate with Indonesia and Brunei through the existing bilateral mechanism to finalise land and maritime demarcation," he told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 16).

Datuk Henry Sum Agong (GPS-Lawas) had asked about the government's efforts in determining the land and maritime borders between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

In addition, Mohamad said Malaysia has signed a total of 33 land border agreements or MoUs and nine maritime treaties with neighbouring countries so far.

Mohamad said for the border between Malaysia and Indonesia, the distance that has been finalised is 1,943.2km which is 94.2% of the 2,064km through the signing of 22 agreements and MoUs.

"Meanwhile, for the latest maritime demarcation, the two countries signed the Straits of Melaka treaty and the Sulawesi Sea treaty on June 8 last year in Putrajaya.

"This treaty will be fully enforced and implemented after both parties complete their respective internal processes," he said.

Replying to Henry's supplementary question regarding long queues of vehicles entering and exiting the border of Brunei and Sabah, Mohamad said it had been brought up in a bilateral meeting with Brunei to discuss solutions regarding immigration management issues and the number of checkpoints.

"Negotiation after negotiation has been held and next week, God willing, I will be in Brunei to hold an exchange of letters.

"Recently, senior officers of our two governments held negotiations so that we can reach a consensus to continue... the understanding of the two countries regarding the land demarcation between Malaysia and Brunei," he said.

Mohamad also said his ministry always takes a cautious approach involving issues of national sovereignty and any signing of maritime or land demarcation agreements will only be implemented after taking into account all sensitive matters including the relevant state government. – Bernama