Sabah CM Denies Land Ceded to Indonesia, Says Malaysia Benefits

The recent reports circulating in some Indonesian media outlets alleging the cession of 127.3 hectares of land on Sebatik Island to Indonesia have been firmly denied by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. These claims, which suggested a territorial gain for Indonesia, are inaccurate and do not reflect the reality of the land border demarcation negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Speaking at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, Hajiji Noor clarified that the narrative presented by Indonesian media agencies, such as the statement by Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodar, is not a true representation of the outcome. He emphasized that Malaysia, in fact, stands to gain from this agreement, though specific details cannot be disclosed publicly due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic relations.

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That is not true. Who said it was handed over? Actually, we are the ones who benefited from this matter, but this matter cannot be detailed openly.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the border discussions are a matter of high-level diplomacy, involving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. While the specifics remain confidential, Hajiji assured that the outcome is beneficial for Malaysia. This situation underscores the complexities of border management and diplomatic negotiations between neighboring countries, where public perception can sometimes diverge from the nuanced realities of bilateral agreements.

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The matter involves diplomatic relations, so we cannot make statements openly, but what is important is that Malaysia actually benefits.