Malaysia has asserted in a diplomatic note that it “never recognized” the Philippines’ territorial claims over the Malaysian state of Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo.
In a note verbale addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the controversial territorial claims, Malaysia rejected the “excessive maritime claims” by the Philippines over the state of Sabah.
“The Government of Malaysia categorically rejects the excessive maritime claims arising from the Kalayaan Island Group as asserted by the Republic of the Philippines as they have not conformed to Part IV of UNCLOS 1982 and have no basis under the international law,” Malaysia stated.
Malaysia’s note verbal came after the Philippines, through a diplomatic note to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on March 6, 2020, asserted its sovereignty over the Kalayaan Island Group.
“The area also overlaps with the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea of the Republic of the Philippines is measured, and over which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines intends to make a submission at a future time,” the Philippines said.
This was, however, considered by the Malaysian government as “being premature in nature.”
“With respect to the assertion of the Philippines that the ‘Malaysian submission is projected from portions of North Borneo over which the Republic of the Philippines has never relinquished its sovereignty,’ the Permanent Mission of Malaysia wishes also to inform the Secretary-General that Malaysia has never recognized the Republic of the Philippines’ claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah,” it added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. On July 27, 2020 chided the United States Embassy in Manila after it identified Sabah as part of Malaysia in a social media announcement of its donations to Filipino repatriates from Kota Kinabalu.
Locsin called out the US embassy on Twitter and asked them to edit the announcement, affirming that Sabah is not in Malaysia.
“Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines,” Locsin then said, reviving the controversial territorial dispute.
Malaysia also requested that the diplomatic note be circulated to all members of the commission, all state parties to UNCLOS 1982, and members of the United Nations.