Warisan’s statement on Philippines’ claim to Sabah misleading, provocative – Anifah

KOTA KINABALU: Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Sri Anifah Aman has reiterated that Sabah is a part of Malaysia and it does not recognise any claims on the state.

Anifah, in a statement yesterday, said, the statement by Parti Warisan Sabah secretary general Loretto Padua Jr was misleading and provocative.

“I am aware of the provocative statement that Loretto Padua Jr, the secretary- general of Parti Warisan Sabah issued, pursuant to the response made by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s answer to the question asked by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, the Semporna MP, in Parliament on July 27, 2017.

“In his statement, Loretto accused the government of Malaysia of not wanting to conclusively resolve the claim made by the Philippines on Sabah. This accusation is baseless, provocative and misleading and is to be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Anifah said.

He stressed that the Foreign Ministry had repeated the government’s position that the Philippines claim was without basis.

“Sabah has been recognised by the United Nations and the international community as part of Malaysia since its formation on Sept 16, 1963. As such, Malaysia does not recognise and will not entertain any claims by any party on Sabah,” he pointed out.

According to Anifah, Shafie, who has been a member of Parliament for some years, is well acquainted with the Malaysian government’s position.

“By the same token, he (Shafie) is also well aware that this matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and not the Minister of Defence and his party’s subsequent response is mostly an attempt to sow confusion and mislead the people.

“This is disappointing since matters of this importance and sensitivity must not be the subject of gutter politics,” Anifah said.