KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, on Thursday (April 16) in Lahad Datu, denied claims that 127.3 hectares on Sebatik Island were handed over to Indonesia, saying the claims were inaccurate and did not reflect the outcome of talks between Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Top national leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, took part in border talks between the two countries. He said the matter involved diplomatic relations and said Malaysia had benefited from the process,” said Hajiji.
News reports citing Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari said 127.3 hectares of land on Sabah’s Pulau Sebatik would come under Indonesian territory after a border demarcation deal. Muhammad said the demarcation was the result of peaceful diplomacy between Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Indonesian reports led to questions over the border demarcation from Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) president Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar, who urged the Federal Government to give a full and transparent explanation of border talks with Indonesia. Zulkarnain said Malaysia reportedly received 4.9 hectares in exchange, which raised questions about the fairness of the talks, adding that the issue affected national sovereignty, Sabah’s interests and local rights.
Pulau Sebatik is off the south-eastern Tawau district and shares a border with Indonesia’s Kalimantan Utara province.
In February, Anwar told Parliament that Malaysia had not ceded land to Indonesia and rejected claims of a territorial swap. He said the border adjustments were based on historical treaties and joint re-measurement, and said Malaysia gained territory in Sabah and did not lose land.
