KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia's discussions with Indonesia on the Ambalat dispute in the Sulawesi Sea are a sign of good friendship, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that the dispute does not imply that Malaysia is surrendering anything as the discussions involve Indonesia, and are therefore aimed at protecting and preserving the good relationship between the countries.
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"We want to solve issues amicably," he said and added that the Federal Government would not allow any part of Sabah or the country to be claimed by anyone.
"We will protect every inch of Sabah," Anwar said
The Ambalat area is a long-disputed maritime zone rich in oil and gas resources.
Anwar and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recently issued a joint statement pledging to explore a proposed joint development in the Sulawesi Sea in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner; this joint development includes the Ambalat block.
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A Wisma Putra statement explained that the joint statement marks a preliminary effort by both governments to work towards the best solution.
The Ambalat block spans some 15,000sq km off the coast of Sabah snf is believed to contain significant crude oil reserves.
In 2004, PETRONAS awarded a concession to Shell to explore the area, sparking protests from Indonesia, which had granted similar rights to Italian energy company Eni.
In 2009, Indonesia protested Malaysia’s military presence in the area, and the following year, Indonesian navy vessels purportedly came close to opening fire on a Malaysian navy patrol ship for ignoring orders to leave.
