KUALA LUMPUR, February 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today denied reports that Malaysia ceded 5,207 hectares of land to Indonesia, clarifying in Parliament that the Sabah–Kalimantan border is based on historical agreements dating back to 1891 and 1915.
Speaking amid claims originating from an Indonesian media report, Anwar said negotiations over disputed areas such as Pulau Sebatik and Sungai Sinapad–Sungai Sesai were conducted with full involvement of Sabah authorities and were resolved through international conventions.
Resulting in Malaysia acquiring 787 hectares while the remaining areas remain under Indonesia’s administration. He emphasized that the three villages cited in the report—Kampung Kabulangalor, Kampung Lepaga, and Kampung Tetagas—have always been part of Malaysia.
The prime minister added that the latest round of border talks, which started in 2019 and concluded in 2023 but have yet to be ratified, aim to preserve diplomatic ties while ensuring clarity on the Outstanding Boundary Problems (OBPs).
Anwar stressed that the border settlements are not based on compensation or trade-offs, but on legally recognised treaties, underscoring Malaysia’s commitment to uphold historical agreements and maintain good relations with Indonesia.
