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By Daniel John Jambun, 5-7-2025
WE take note of the Deputy Foreign Minister’s clarification on the 2023 Sulawesi Sea Treaty, signed between Malaysia and Indonesia on 8 June 2023. While Sabah’s technical agencies were involved in preparatory discussions, no representative from the Sabah Cabinet was present at the actual signing ceremony — a glaring omission in a matter concerning Sabah’s maritime boundaries.
The treaty itself:
Covers only territorial sea boundaries (up to 12 nautical miles);
Excludes the disputed Ambalat blocks (ND6/ND7), which lie within Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);
Remains unratified and its full text has not been made public.
While Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and several senior federal ministers were present in Jakarta during the signing, not a single minister from Sabah’s Cabinet was included in the official delegation. This raises serious questions about Sabah’s role and recognition in federal-level decisions affecting our maritime sovereignty.
We stress that technical participation does not substitute for political representation. Decisions on Sabah’s territorial integrity must not be made without Sabah at the table — in both form and substance.
We therefore urge the Federal Government to:
1. Declassify and release the full treaty text and related documents for public scrutiny and parliamentary oversight;
2. Guarantee Sabah’s full political representation in all future negotiations involving our waters and offshore resources;
3. Exclude Ambalat (ND6/ND7) from any implementation or joint development until Sabah’s elected leadership is formally involved;
4. Respect the spirit and letter of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) by practising genuine federalism.
Sabahans deserve transparency, respect, and a seat at the table when decisions are made about our land and sea. Anything less is an affront to our sovereignty.
Daniel John Jambun is President of Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation
&
Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS).#~Borneo Herald™
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