Kota Kinabalu: Filipino politicians must stop treating Sabah as a “political commodity” to distract from their domestic and energy crises.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) Moyog Vice Chairman Petrus C. Mojuntin said Sabah is a sovereign state within Malaysia and its status is non-negotiable.
He said Sabah’s position is based on the “finality of choice” made in 1963, which was internationally recognised and remains the bedrock of its identity.
“We are not ‘for sale,’ and we are certainly not ‘for taking,’” said Petrus.
He said while global energy challenges are acknowledged, using Sabah’s natural resources as a hypothetical “solution” for a foreign nation’s crisis is an affront to its autonomy.
He called on the Federal Government to remain vigilant and to prioritise the security of Sabahans.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Wing of Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) condemned a statement by Filipino Senator Robin Padilla, who urged that claims over Sabah be revived.
PGRS Women’s Chief Datuk Redonah Bahanda said the remarks were not only irresponsible and provocative, but failed to understand historical realities, the principles of international law and Malaysia’s long-recognised sovereignty.
“Sabah is a sovereign state within Malaysia, formed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Its position is reinforced by the democratic will of the people of Sabah, who legally chose to join the Federation of Malaysia.
“Any attempt to question this is irrelevant, unfounded, and must be completely rejected,” Redonah said in a statement.
Sabah’s status as part of Malaysia has received international recognition and cannot be disputed arbitrarily, she added.
Redonah noted the timing of the statement, amid global energy market uncertainties.
The women’s wing reaffirmed its full confidence in the leadership of Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor to defend Sabah’s rights and sovereignty from any external threat.
“We also urge all Malaysians, especially the people of Sabah, to remain united and resolute in rejecting any foreign attempt to challenge the state’s sovereignty,” she said.
