KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s sovereignty must never be questioned or used for political mileage, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the issue resurfaces whenever elections near in the Philippines and must be put to rest.
“This issue has always been there, especially during their elections. But from the beginning, Sabahans chose to be with Malaysia, and this cannot be questioned by that side (the Philippines).
“We are recognised by the United Nations,” he told reporters after the state-level Hari Raya open house here on Saturday.
Hajiji was responding to Philippine Senator Robin Padilla, who recently urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr to revive Manila’s claim over Sabah amid the petroleum crisis and rising prices due to the Middle East conflict.
Padilla had said in a Facebook post that the Philippine government should send emissaries to Malaysia to negotiate its territorial claims over Sabah, which is rich in oil and gas.
On diesel and fuel subsidies, Hajiji said he had been informed by the Prime Minister that an intervention meeting would soon be held, and he would wait for a briefing before commenting further.
For now, Sabah continues to enjoy the existing diesel subsidy, he said, with any changes dependent on the outcome of the meeting.
“We understand the situation in the Middle East. We will continue to monitor it. We are fortunate not to be badly affected so far, but we must be careful and prepared if this situation persists,” he added.
Following global fuel price spikes, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday announced a temporary adjustment to the Budi95 eligibility quota from 300 litres to 200 litres per month, effective April 1, while maintaining the subsidised RON95 price at RM1.99 per litre.
The Finance Ministry also said diesel prices in Peninsular Malaysia had risen to RM4.72 per litre from RM3.92, while prices of unsubsidised RON95 and diesel in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan
