The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal protest regarding two maritime laws passed by the Philippines in 2024, as these laws affect Malaysia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and interests.
The relevant laws are the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Malaysia will continue to defend its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and interests in accordance with principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"Malaysia has lodged a formal protest because the areas and features concerned are based on Malaysia’s new map of 1979, and they touch upon issues concerning Malaysia’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and interests."
"The people of Sabah have also exercised their right to self-determination regarding the question of whether Sabah belongs to the Malaysian Federation."
The then UN Secretary-General reported to the United Nations General Assembly on September 14, 1963, stating that the people of Sabah supported Sabah joining the Malaysian Federation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this written response in Parliament to a question by Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.
In addition, Article 7 of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act 2024 refers to the definition of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) as specified in Presidential Decree No. 1596 and No. 1599 of 1978.
"According to the coordinates provided in Presidential Decree No. 1596 of 1978, it has been verified that the area in question encroaches upon the northern Sabah waters as delineated by Malaysia’s 1979 new map."
"Malaysia has lodged a formal protest because the areas and features concerned are based on Malaysia’s new map of 1979, and they touch upon issues concerning Malaysia’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and interests."
"The people of Sabah have also exercised their right to self-determination regarding the question of whether Sabah belongs to the Malaysian Federation."
The then UN Secretary-General reported to the United Nations General Assembly on September 14, 1963, stating that the people of Sabah supported Sabah joining the Malaysian Federation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this written response in Parliament to a question by Keningau MP Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan.
In addition, Article 7 of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act 2024 refers to the definition of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) as specified in Presidential Decree No. 1596 and No. 1599 of 1978.
"According to the coordinates provided in Presidential Decree No. 1596 of 1978, it has been verified that the area in question encroaches upon the northern Sabah waters as delineated by Malaysia’s 1979 new map."