Sabah not part of agenda in Duterte’s talks with Mahathir
MALACAÑANG on Sunday said it is unlikely that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will bring up the Philippines’ long-standing claims over the state of Sabah during his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur today, July 16.
“Probably not,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a Viber message on Sunday afternoon, July 15, when asked if Mr. Duterte will discuss the Philippines’ claims over Sabah with Mr. Mahathir considering now that the consultative committee’s (ConCom) proposed federal constitution strengthens the Philippines’ long-standing claim to the territory of North Borneo.
Mr. Roque said last week that Mr. Duterte was scheduled to meet with Mr. Mahathir after the fight of Senator and boxing champ Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
“[I] had [a] telephone talk with [Mr.] Mahathir before Cabinet meeting. He wants to talk about insurgency and ISIS. We will be there July 16. After the boxing, [I] will talk with Mahathir,” Mr. Duterte said, as posted by Mr. Roque on his official Twitter account on July 9.
In the National Territory article under the proposed federal constitution, the Philippines’ sovereignty would consist of “the islands and waters encompassed by its archipelagic baselines, its territorial sea and its airspace,” in accordance with the “laws of the federal republic, the law of nations, and judgments of competent international courts or tribunals.” It also included territories that belong to the country by “historic right or legal title,” which was a provision of the 1973 Constitution, but excised from the present Constitution.
Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman, in a statement on Jan. 31, maintained Malaysia’s territorial claim over Sabah. “The Government of Malaysia reiterates its position that Malaysia does not recognize and will not entertain any claims by any party on Sabah. Sabah is recognized by the United Nations (UN) and the international community as part of Malaysia since the formation of the Federation in 16 Sept. 1963,” he said.