By The Straits Times | Created at 2024-11-14 12:10:03 | Updated at 2024-11-22 04:20:11
1 week ago
Updated
Nov 14, 2024, 06:56 PM
Published
Nov 14, 2024, 06:09 PM
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will send a protest note to the Philippines over its new maritime laws due to their overlapping claims in the South China Sea, its deputy foreign minister said on Nov 14.
The protest will follow a complaint from China over the Philippines’ Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, which Manila said was intended to strengthen its maritime claims and bolster its territorial integrity.
Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin said the government has reviewed the reference documents related to the Philippines’ laws and found that they touch upon claims to the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island.
“We will send a protest note today to demonstrate our commitment to defending Sabah’s sovereign rights and the sovereignty of our country,” Datuk Mohamad told Parliament.
The Philippines’ foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Philippines has a dormant claim to the eastern part of Sabah dating back to colonial times, but official statements on the issue are rare. Its Supreme Court ruled in 2011 that the claim has never been relinquished. REUTERS
