NO agreement has been reached between Malaysia and Indonesia over the maritime boundary that includes the disputed Ambalat block in waters off the shared island of Sebatik in Tawau.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) said so far, no agreement had been reached during bilateral meetings on Sebatik Island and the Sulawesi Sea.
The latest round of negotiations under the Special Technical Meeting held on Nov 16 and 17 in Tangerang, Indonesia, concluded without any fresh developments with both parties maintaining their respective positions.
Hajiji told the Sabah state assembly that Malaysia and Indonesia were committed to a comprehensive resolution of land and maritime boundaries.
The state government, he said, had been actively participating in these bilateral meetings led by the Foreign Ministry to ensure that any negotiation or proposal involving Sabah’s boundaries were first referred to the state Cabinet.
“The Sabah government maintains a clear, consistent position and will not waver in ensuring that the state’s boundaries are maintained and unchallenged by neighbouring countries,” said Hajiji in response to Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang).
Shafie had sought clarification on the negotiations with Indonesia over Sebatik Island under the Sulawesi Sea Treaty as well as the country’s demands.
The state’s boundary on Sebatik Island, said Hajiji, followed a straight line along 4°10’, starting from the East Pillar to the Low Water Line on the eastern side of the island.
The maritime boundary signed under the Sulawesi Sea Treaty involved only 12 nautical miles and did not put Sabah at a disadvantage on its stand over the Sebatik borders, he said.
“Negotiations for establishing maritime boundaries beyond the 12 nautical miles up to 200 nautical miles in the Sulawesi Sea (in areas ND6 and ND7), constituting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), have not commenced.
“The boundary involving Sebatik Island, particularly the intertidal area, is still under negotiation,” he said.
Malaysia’s negotiations were led by the Maritime Affairs Department director-general under the Foreign Ministry, with the state government represented by the state secretary, the state attorney-general, the internal affairs and research secretary, and the Land and Survey Department.
Earlier, Assafal Alian (Warisan-Tungku) apologised and withdrew his claim in the state assembly in August this year, during which he alleged that Sabah had lost the oil-rich Ambalat area under the Sulawesi Treaty.
Assafal told the house that he did not mean to mislead the assembly but was seeking clarification.
