Consult Sabah before deciding on Ambalat, says Sabah BIMP-EAGA Business Council

Borneo Post

4 days ago

Dr Raymond Alfred
KOTA KINABALU (July 2): The chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (Malaysia, Sabah), Dr Raymond Alfred, on Wednesday emphasized that any decisions on the disputed Ambalat maritime zone must involve formal consultation with Sabah, given the state's direct strategic, economic and geopolitical interests.
Raymond asserted that Ambalat is not merely a bilateral dispute between Putrajaya and Jakarta, but a Sabahan maritime issue that affects border integrity, energy resources, and regional development potential.
'Ambalat lies at Sabah's maritime frontier. No final decision or commitment should be made by the Federal Government without full consultation and participation of Sabah's leadership. This is fundamental under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' he said.
Raymond called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) to ensure that Sabah is given an official seat at the table in all negotiations and decisions involving maritime boundaries with Indonesia.
'Sabah has every legal and moral right to be involved. This is not just a national security matter — it's a question of Sabah's future development in oil, gas, marine economy, and sovereignty,' he stressed.
The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (Malaysia, Sabah), which supports cross-border economic collaboration across Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, also warned that Sabah's exclusion from maritime policy-making could undermine regional cooperation efforts and limit economic opportunities in the BIMP-EAGA growth corridor.
Raymond called on the Federal Government to establish a Sabah Maritime Boundary Consultative Committee to review and assert Sabah's interests in Ambalat, involve Sabah's elected leaders and maritime experts in all diplomatic talks involving disputed maritime areas and uphold MA63 principles to ensure Sabah's participation in decisions affecting its territorial and resource rights.
He further urged Sabah civil society, youth groups and coastal communities to remain vigilant and united in defending Sabah's interests.
'Sabah cannot afford to be a spectator in decisions that impact our borders and resources. We must speak with one voice: no decision about Sabah, without Sabah,' Raymond concluded.
On June 27, national news agency Bernama reported that Anwar and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation, including the potential for joint development in the maritime border area between the two countries.
Anwar was quoted as saying that both sides should explore economic cooperation in the maritime zone, including the Ambalat area, for the benefit of their respective populations.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has also demanded an explanation from the Federal Government over the matter.