SABAH CLAIM : 'NO NEED TO NEGOTIATE WITH MANILA '

KOTA KINABALU: There is no need for any negotiations with Manila to get it to drop its claim on Sabah because Malaysia was formed in 1963 with international blessing, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said.

He said Malaysia’s position was clear as the formation of Malaysia was based on the Cobbold Commission assessment report for the formation of the nation in 1963 and was recognised by the United Nations.
“I think the question of negotiating should not arise as we resolved this matter in 1963 when Malaysia was formed,” Rahim told reporters after launching his ministry’s nationwide Information Dissemination and Public Diplomacy programme here.
He was asked to comment on a call by Parti Bersatu Sabah to include state leaders in negotiating teams to get the Philippines to drop its Sabah claim “once and for all.”
He said the Philippines’ claim was based on a civil agreement that was superseded by the Sabah people’s wish to join the Malaysian federation based on the findings of the Cobbold Commission and also the United Nations.
However, Rahim added that within the Asean framework they had mechanisms to settle variou disputes through an amicable and peaceful manner.

Read more on Philippine claim over Sabah..