Malaysia will not entertain any foreign claim on Sabah, Prime Minister Najib Razak said, following a statement by incoming Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, who reportedly plans to pursue claim on the state.
Najib said Sabah’s sovereignty would be protected by the security forces, as it has achieved independence through Malaysia in 1963, the Star Online‘s Muguntan Vanar reported.
He added that the findings of the Cobbold Commission — which reflected the views of the people — was accepted internationally.
“As such, no group can make any claim on Sabah,” Najib was quoted as saying, adding that Malaysia would ‘defend every inch of Sabah’.
Media reports last week quoted Duterte as saying that he planned to pursue the country’s claim on Sabah.
Duterte had 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), reportedly 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.
