Kota Kinabalu: Gagasan Rakyat Youth has strongly condemned a statement by Philippine Senator Robin Padilla who called for the revival of the so-called claim over Sabah.
Acting Youth Chief Azrul Ibrahim said it was irresponsible and contrary to the principles of sovereignty and international law.
“Sabah is part of Malaysia and its position as a sovereign territory cannot be questioned by any party,” he said in a statement, Friday.
He emphasised that attempts to link Sabah to issues of oil and energy resources as justification to revive the claim were baseless and appeared intended to divert attention from their internal issues.
“Sabah is not a commodity to resolve the problems of another country,” he said.
Azrul urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia to lodge an official protest, while calling on the Federal Government to continue monitoring the issue to safeguard national sovereignty.
Former Honorary President of the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (Rela), Datuk Jerry Ambuting Mohd Said, said the call was baseless and amounted to provocation that could affect regional stability.
“Sabah is not a territory that can be questioned or used as political rhetoric,” he said.
He said suggestions to send representatives or a team to Sabah as a symbolic claim were excessive and unacceptable to Malaysians, particularly Sabahans.
It could be seen as a challenge to national security and sovereignty.”
He urged the Philippine government under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take a clear stance and curb such remarks.
