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Territorial Issues Causes Philippines-Malaysia Friction
KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (IslamOnline) - Malaysia denied Wednesday the Philippines' claims to sovereignty in the ongoing territorial dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague that the Philippines did not have any rights to discuss issues regarding the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo.
He added that the government of the Philippines did not have any rights at all on the Sipadan and Ligitan islands.
The Malaysian representative said the future of the two million people in Sabah, who voted to become part of Malaysia in 1962, could not be changed - they remain fully Malaysian.
"Malaysia believes the Philippines does not have any legitimate rights on these islands, thus cannot participate in the debates on the litigious issues involving Indonesia and Malaysia in this court," the representative said.
In Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Muslim island nation, the interest shown by the Philippines on these islands has created a sense of anger that is visible even though officials refuse to comment.
On Monday, the Philippines told the ICJ that it intended to intervene in the case between Malaysia and Indonesia on sovereignty over the Sipadan and Ligitan Islands.
Its representative, Ambassador Eloy R. Bello III, said the Philippines was concerned that some interpretations, put on treaties and agreements before the court, may affect the Filipino claim on Sabah, formerly called North Borneo.
The government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo insisted a few months ago that her government would not abandon its claims on the state of Sabah.
Several politicians in the country added that the Philippines had legitimate claims on the territory and that they would discuss them with Malaysia or through the ICJ, in order to settle the matter.
The state of Sabah is populated by people of Philippine origin, Malaysians from the peninsula and locals such as Dayaks, Ibans and other aborigines. There is a considerable population of Chinese settlers on the island as well.
The current state government of Sabah is under the control of the ruling National Front (NF) coalition of Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir.
"The future of the people of Sabah cannot be traded," Abdul Kadir Mohamad said. The strong response by the Malaysians might send the two countries into a conflict that could affect their already strained relationship.
During the reign of former president Joseph Estrada, the two countries had an angry exchange when the wife of jailed Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim visited the Philippines.
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had a private audience with Estrada, who urged the Malaysian government to put the former deputy Prime Minister under house arrest.
Abdul Kadir, during his 15-minute speech at the ICJ, added that the ICJ should reject the Philippines' claims on Sabah. He said the Philippines had abused the proceedings of the ICJ in its claims on the territory.
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