KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is fully behind the federal government’s move to defend the sovereignty of Malaysia by dismissing foreign demands or claims over the territory.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Prime Minister had made it clear that Sabah is and will always be a part of the federation, a stand similar to the state’s.
This statement came following a written response from Wisma Putra on July 29 that Sabah has always been an integral part of Malaysia, and that Malaysia has never and will not recognise any claims on Sabah, among other things.
This follows a recent viral video circulating that questions the sovereignty of Sabah as an integral part of Malaysia.
Hajiji said Sabahans have chosen to jointly form the Malaysia Federation through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and therefore, any external claims over Sabah will not be recognised at all by the people.
He reiterated that the United Nations (UN) and the international community have recognised Sabah as part of Malaysia since the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
The Chief Minister said the state government also fully supported Wisma Putra's action and statement that the said video contained baseless and misleading content.
"We are confident that the Foreign Ministry will be able to investigate the matter thoroughly in cooperation with the relevant ministries and agencies," he said.
According to the Wisma Putra statement, the ministry was conducting thorough investigations on the matter by cooperating with relevant ministries and agencies.
It mentioned that the people of Sabah had exercised their self-determination rights on the formation of Malaysia through the 1962 Cobbold Commission.
“The government of Malaysia will continue its efforts to defend the sovereignty of Sabah as an integral part of Malaysia, and ensure that Malaysia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests are protected at all times,” the statement read.
