KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — The Unity Government has guaranteed that every decision to resolve Malaysia’s maritime boundaries with neighbouring countries will not compromise its sovereignty and interests.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the government has never and will never take lightly any decision involving issues of national sovereignty.
The government will only sign maritime boundary agreements after considering the joint resolution elements achieved with a particular country based on the principle of boundary delimitation with solid legal and technical justifications.
“The government is firm about this and will not compromise. To resolve Malaysia’s outstanding border issues with other countries, the government remains committed to conducting negotiations to produce solutions acceptable to both parties.
“This is crucial to ensure not only the country’s sovereignty is safeguarded but also to protect diplomatic relations between Malaysia and those countries,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mohamad was responding to Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee’s query on the list of maritime boundary agreements signed by the government and its follow-up actions.
The deputy minister added that the government has signed nine maritime boundary agreements with neighbouring countries.
They include the latest two treaties with Indonesia: the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries in the Southernmost Part of the Straits of Melaka (Straits of Melaka Treaty) and the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries in the Sulawesi Sea (Sulawesi Sea Treaty).
“Both treaties were signed on June 8 last year at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya, and all these agreements and treaties are in force and implemented by the government,” he said.
— Bernama
