Sabah will not compromise on its sovereignty or territorial rights, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor assured the State Legislative Assembly at its current sitting.
“We will not simply give away what is rightly ours. Protecting our sovereignty, we are all together in this… we are all Sabahan.
“What rightfully belongs to us, we will defend together. This will always remain our priority,” the Chief Minister said during the winding-up session for the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD).
Hajiji was responding to predecessor and Senallang Asssemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is also State Opposition Leader, regarding the status of the Sabah-Indonesia land boundary in Sebatik, Kalabakan.
Assistant Minister I to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who represented Hajiji, said that under Article 2 of the Federal Constitution, any alteration to State boundaries cannot be made without the consent of the State Legislative Assembly.
“The statement by Senallang Assemblyman is correct in relation to State boundaries and this matter was previously categorised as one of the Outstanding Boundary Problems (OBP),” he said.
Joniston said the land boundary on Sebatik island was only finalised following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) No. 23 on Feb 18, 2025 between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Addressing claims that 100 hectares on Sebatik had been handed over to Indonesia, he clarified that this did not constitute a surrender of sovereignty.
“It is not a surrender of sovereignty, but rather compliance with the Boundary Convention of 1891,” he said.
He explained that the determination of the land boundary on Sebatik is based on the boundary convention signed between the British and Dutch governments on June 20, 1891, which stipulates under Article 4 that the boundary alignment follows latitude 4°10’ North.
This boundary had long remained unresolved as an OBP.
Following joint Malaysia-Indonesia technical reviews in 1983, discrepancies were found between the boundary alignment on the ground and that stipulated in the 1891 convention, with the actual demarcation not aligned with latitude 4°10’ North.
Joniston said further investigation, marking and re-surveying works along the 4°10’ North latitude line were carried out by survey teams from both countries between February and November 2019, using modern equipment and advanced technology to ensure accuracy.
He added that the realignment of the Sebatik boundary was resolved as part of a package deal together with boundary adjustments at Sungai Sinapad and Sungai Sesai.
“As a result, Malaysia gained an additional 780 hectares that was previously within Indonesian territory and is now part of Malaysia,” he said.
He reiterated that the land boundaries of Sebatik, as well as those at Sungai Sinapad and Sungai Sesai, were formally finalised through the signing of MoU No. 23 on Feb. 18, 2025.
Joniston also assured that Sabah’s interests had been safeguarded throughout the process, with the State Government consistently involved at every stage of technical and diplomatic negotiations.
This included participation from representatives of the Chief Minister’s Department, the Sabah State Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department.
He stressed that the entire process of negotiation, demarcation and measurement was carried out based on mutual agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia, in accordance with international law, and did not involve any form of compensation, reciprocity or trade-off.
“Malaysia acted in full respect of international legal instruments to uphold Sabah’s rights and ensure more effective and mutually recognised border security control,” he said.
On calls for transparency, Joniston clarified that while the Sebatik land boundary has been finalised, negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia are still ongoing in other areas.
He said unresolved segments include the intertidal area on the eastern side of Sebatik island, extending 870 metres seaward, as well as four Outstanding Boundary Problem areas in the Sarawak-West Kalimantan sector.
“Therefore, negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia are still ongoing to resolve these remaining areas,” he said.
