Anwar sa Sabah issue: ‘Let it rest for a while’

Anwar sa Sabah issue: ‘Let it rest for a while’

March 3, 2023 @ 5:59 PM 3 weeks ago


MANILA, Philippines – Nais ng Malaysia na magkaroon ng mapayapang pakikipagkasundo sa Pilipinas, partikular na sa usapin ng territorial dispute sa Sabah.

“Let it rest for a while, and there should not be an issue that easily provoke or cause antagonism because there are too many things in common,” sinabi ni Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sa exclusive interview ng ANC nitong Biyernes, Marso 3.

“To be fair to the Filipino position, they’re not [hostile].. .Let us evolve slowly. Although, it is tough for us because our people in Sabah feel that we should be more assertive in defending. But, I think the President [Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.] has been very cordial. That’s the Philippine position, that’s the Malay position,” sinabi pa ni Anwar.

Ang Sabah na matatagpuan sa silangan ng Northern Borneo ng Malaysia, at nasa timog-kanlurang bahagi ng Pilipinas, sa kasaysayan ay isa rin sa teritoryong pinaniniwalaang bahagi ng bansa dahil umano sa land lease agreement noong 1878 sa pagitan ng Sultanate of Sulu at ng British North Borneo Chartered Co.

“These are two great nations. They must walk together. I represent this generation, and I told the President very clearly that… let us work together.”

Sa French arbitral ruling noong 2022, ipinag-utos na magbayad ang Malaysian government ng $14 bilyon sa pamilya ng Sulu Sultanate para sa land lease violation noong 1878.

Hindi naman kinilala ng Malaysia ang naturang ruling.

Samantala, sinegundahan ni Anwar ang sentimyento ng Kuala Lumpur at sinabing ang pag-angkin sa Sabah ng mga salinlahi ng Sultan of Sulu ay “ridiculous.”

“There are faults in our legal process, but it’s been corrected and we will continue to win the cases,” aniya.

Sa kabila nito, naniniwala si Anwar na hindi maaapektuhan ng naturang usapin ang soberanya ng dalawang bansa maging ang mga mamamayan nito.

“I don’t think it is a decision that would affect the sovereignty of the nations. To us, it is our national sovereignty. There are issues … which we can resolve. But it is a ridiculous claim,” sinabi ni Anwar, patungkol sa French arbitration court decision.

Matatandaan na naging usapin din ang territorial dispute sa Sabah nang sabihin ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. noong nakaraang taon na, “We, as a republic, have a claim over Sabah since the 1960’s. We have historical claim over Sabah and that’s a fact.”

“The Sultan of Sulu and his people are Filipino citizens and, by virtue of that fact, they deserve protection from the government of the Philippines… It’s the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens,” dagdag pa niya. RNT/JGC