Philippines president-elect Rodrigo Duterte is sticking to his government’s position on Sabah, despite Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent dismissal of any foreign claim on the state.
A report by the Inquirer quoted Duterte as saying that he would ‘stick with the original position of the government’ and that ‘nothing has changed’.
Duterte reportedly said, however, that the Philippines would like to pursue the claim ‘only through peaceful means’.
“We don’t have the luxury of getting into trouble or another war, we just have to talk to everybody to develop our country,” he was quoted as saying.
“We can’t afford to fight, let’s just talk, and I hope the Malaysians will understand,” the tough-talking Duterte told the Inquirer.
Najib had, last week, reportedly said that Malaysia would not entertain any foreign claim on Sabah, as the state has achieved independence through Malaysia in 1963, and that security forces would protect the oil-rich state’s sovereignty.
He was also quoted as saying that the findings of the Cobbold Commission — which reflected the views of the people of Sabah and Sarawak — was accepted internationally.
This was after Duterte reportedly said he would recognise the claim of the now defunct sultanate of Sulu (which once ruled parts of southern Philippines and Sabah before the British government moved Sabah to the Federation of Malaysia in 1963), stating that ‘Sabah was only leased, not ceded, to the British North Borneo Co’.
“What has been the policy will always be the policy of the government especially those for the interest of the country. We have to stake our claim,” the Philippine Star quoted him as saying.
In Feb 2013, more than 200 followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III arrived at Lahad Datu, Sabah by boat, in an attempt to assert power over the area.
This led to bloody clashes over three weeks that left 56 militants, six civilians and 10 Malaysian security personnel, dead.
