TAWAU: Kalabakan Member of Parliament Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy urged everyone to remain calm and respect the border demarcation decision at Pulau Sebatik without being influenced by controversies that could undermine the good relations between the two neighbouring nations.
He said this is crucial as Malaysia-Indonesia relations must continue to be guided by principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and shared trust.
“Fact-based solutions for the long-term interests of people at the border cannot be sidelined,” he said when commenting on a statement by the Nunukan Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) regarding the issue.
Andi said Malaysia is committed to ensuring every border affirmation process is implemented in accordance with regional stability, the welfare of border communities and good relations between both countries.
He said the issue should continue to be addressed through diplomatic channels, inter-governmental dialogue and official joint mechanisms, rather than through public controversies that could potentially harm bilateral relations.
“We take note of statements by certain parties regarding concerns over the impact of the Malaysia-Indonesia border affirmation in the Pulau Sebatik area and surroundings, but we also need to remain calm,” he said.
He acknowledged that concerns by certain parties about the welfare of border communities arising from the border demarcation decision are indeed reasonable, understandable and should be respected.
At the same time, all parties need to realise that the decision was not made unilaterally or through arbitrary changes on the ground, but through official channels.
“The decision-making process was reached based on official procedures between both government administrations through technical and diplomatic negotiations over a long period,” he said.
On the approach to the border determination, he said the measure takes into account historical references, old maps and differing interpretations that have existed since earlier eras between the two countries.
He added that while some opinions view the border status of Pulau Sebatik shared by Malaysia and Indonesia as having been settled long ago from a historical perspective, differing interpretations still exist.
“The differences in interpretation prompted the need for joint negotiations to be held so that border lines can be determined in an orderly manner, legally valid and accepted by both countries.
“In this context, the border affirmation process should not be viewed as something that directly disadvantages border communities, but as an important foundation to ensure orderly administration,” he said.
He believes the agreement reached can protect the rights of local residents and open up opportunities for more organised and sustainable cross-border development and economic cooperation.
A statement by Indonesia’s National Border Management Agency through its secretary, Police Commissioner General Makhruzi Rahman, during a joint briefing session with Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II in Jakarta on Jan 21, confirmed that Outstanding Boundary Points (OBP) issues at B-2700, B-3000 and Simantipal have been resolved through a joint memorandum signed on Feb 18, 2025 at Pulau Sebatik.
According to the substance of the 45th Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Meeting, the land status decision successfully reached involves an area of approximately 127.3 hectares comprising agricultural and forest areas that remain or return to Indonesian sovereignty, while Malaysia obtained a settlement area of around 4.9 hectares encompassing three villages located in Nunukan District, North Kalimantan.
Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, in his statement on Friday, also confirmed the finalisation of the measurement.
Arthur also clarified that the negotiation process was conducted transparently after 45 years of negotiations without using principles of compensation or profit-loss calculations.
