Malaysia's PM Stands Firm on Sabah Amid Ambalat Dispute with Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR, KOMPAS.com - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed his government's commitment to protecting the sovereignty of Sabah amid a long-standing maritime dispute with Indonesia over the resource-rich Ambalat block in the Sulawesi Sea.

During a visit to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state on the island of Borneo, on Sunday August 3, Anwar addressed concerns about the contested maritime area. Indonesia claims the territory as part of its Ambalat block, while Malaysia refers to it as part of its Sulawesi Sea domain.

“We will negotiate properly, but without surrendering. This matter is being discussed in official meetings, not behind closed doors,” Anwar said, as quoted by Channel News Asia on Monday August 4.

“We will defend every inch of Sabah. I will stand by this principle. I’m speaking now because we are protecting Sabah on behalf of the federal government,” he asserted.

The disputed area includes two offshore blocks, ND6 and ND7, which are believed to contain significant oil and gas reserves.

Background on the Dispute

The maritime dispute has persisted for over two decades, with overlapping claims by Indonesia and Malaysia in the Sulawesi Sea. The two countries have previously clashed over sovereignty in this region, which lies near the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan.

Although the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over both islands to Malaysia in 2002, the surrounding maritime boundaries remain unresolved.

In 2004, Malaysia granted oil exploration rights in the area to Shell, while Indonesia had already awarded rights to Italian energy firm Eni.

The following years saw several tense encounters between naval vessels from both countries, including a near standoff in 2010.

Joint Development Talks

When Anwar met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on June 27, the two leaders discussed the potential for joint development of the contested area. However, the joint statement released after the meeting made no explicit mention of Ambalat.

Instead, the statement noted that negotiations on maritime boundaries were showing “ongoing progress” and emphasized the importance of constructive engagement among relevant institutions.

Anwar reiterated in Malaysia’s Parliament on July 22 that no final agreement had been reached on Ambalat, and discussions were still underway.

Inclusion of Sabah in the Talks

Anwar highlighted that Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor had taken part in annual consultations in Indonesia, alongside other relevant officials from the state.

“I wanted Hajiji to hear things directly and share his views. We will discuss the maritime perimeter based on international maritime law and historical claims. Any agreement must be approved by the state government and legislative assembly,” Anwar said.

However, Hajiji later clarified that Ambalat was not discussed in detail during the visit.