By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 22: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor are expected to join the national delegation for the Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultation in Jakarta on July 29, where discussions will include matters related to the Sulawesi Sea.
According to Bernama, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that the presence of Abang Johari and Hajiji was crucial, as any agreement related to the country’s borders must receive approval from these two State governments, while also allowing their views to be conveyed directly to Indonesia.
“This matter must be agreed to by the Sabah government. Therefore, on July 29, we will continue discussions in Jakarta, and the Sabah chief minister will be part of the delegation, as Sabah’s consent is required whenever there are discussions regarding the border,” he said.
He added that he always made it a point to include Sarawak and Sabah’s leaders as part of the national delegation in official bilateral meetings and joint commissions, as these are formal platforms, and that any official meeting involving Singapore or Indonesia requires their presence.
Anwar said this in response to Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee’s (PN-Beluran) question on whether the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision regarding the sovereignty of Ligitan and Sipadan islands could affect the determination of the maritime boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia in the Sulawesi Sea, including the sovereignty of blocks ND6 (Block Y) and ND7 (Block Z).
In addition, the prime minister stated that during his meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the maritime boundary issue in the Sulawesi Sea was raised, and the latter also proposed a joint solution in the spirit of two friendly countries.
However, Anwar emphasised that no final agreement has been reached, as discussions are still ongoing, and the Sulawesi Sea Treaty signed between Malaysia and Indonesia in 2023 includes a non-disclosure clause. — DayakDaily
