Can federal govt give away Sabah territory?
| The Ambalat Block dispute is a story of oil, maps, and law. It is a tale of two neighbours - Malaysia and Indonesia - who both claim rights to a rich patch of sea.
But it is also a test of Malaysia's own federal system and its standing in international law.
Here, we break down the legal issues, the history, and what it all means for Malaysia and the region.
Where did the dispute begin?
The Ambalat Block spans 15,000 sq km in the Sulawesi Sea, just off Sabah's coast. It is rich in oil and gas - estimated to hold between 62 million and 764 million barrels of oil, and 348 million to 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
In monetary terms, this translates to a range between US$4 billion (RM16.8 billion) to over US$50 billion (RM211 billion).
Which country owns the territories is disputed.
Sabah, formerly 'North Borneo', was claimed by the sultanates of Brunei and Sulu. Later, both sultanates granted concessions to European syndicates, notably to Baron von Overbeck and Alfred Den.
These concessions led, in 1881, to the establishment of the British North Borneo Chartered Company. The company administered the North Borneo territory as a British protectorate. In 1946, after World War II, the company transferred its rights to the British Crown.
North Borneo thereby became a Crown Colony.
The Queen's gift
Then, something happened that weakened the federation's claim over the Ambalat Block...
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
Anwar criticises US-Israel bombing of Iran as wrong move
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has condemned the joint US-Israel bombing of Iran's nuclear sites last month, describing it as a misguided action that undermines diplomacy and ignores the resilience of the Iranian people. Speaking in an interview with France 24, Anwar stressed that resolving conflicts, including the Gaza crisis, requires fair multilateral negotiations rather than military aggression. 'I wasn't terribly pleased because I think the way forward is only through negotiations. They (the US) have tried to destroy Iran too many times and you should never ignore the people's resilience,' Anwar said. He highlighted the failure of the attack to account for Iran's capacity to withstand external pressures, reiterating Malaysia's support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Anwar also criticised Western nations, including France, for demanding Iran abandon its nuclear programme while ignoring Israel's nuclear capabilities. 'If they want non-proliferation with the understanding that nuclear technology shouldn't be weaponised, that's fair. But it must be applied consistently. These contradictions and hypocrisy have become too apparent, and people no longer accept them,' he said. Addressing accusations of bias in his foreign policy, Anwar defended his engagement with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, clarifying that his outreach was aimed at promoting ceasefire efforts, not endorsing violence. 'I was not there to provoke violence, but to support dialogue. But I won't be a lackey who condemns Hamas while remaining silent on Israel's actions,' he explained. On the Ukraine conflict, Anwar dismissed claims of double standards, stating that Malaysia has consistently advocated for peaceful resolutions. He revealed that he had urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek an amicable solution, emphasising Malaysia's neutral stance. - Bernama
New Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Netanyahu meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas discuss ceasefire
WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV: President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for White House talks on Monday, while Israeli officials held indirect negotiations with Hamas aimed at securing a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal. Netanyahu's visit follows Trump's prediction, on the eve of their meeting, that such an agreement could be reached this week. Before heading to Washington, the right-wing Israeli leader said his discussions with Trump could help advance negotiations under way in Qatar between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. It was Trump's third face-to-face encounter with Netanyahu since returning to office in January, and came just over two weeks after the president ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli air strikes. Trump then helped arrange a ceasefire in the 12-day Israel-Iran war. Trump and his aides appeared to be trying to seize on any momentum created by the weakening of Iran, which backs Hamas, to push both sides for a breakthrough in the 21-month Gaza war. He said he also wants to discuss with Netanyahu the prospects for a "permanent deal" with Iran, Israel's regional arch-foe. The two leaders were scheduled to have a private dinner instead of formal talks in the Oval Office, where the president usually greets visiting dignitaries. It was not immediately clear why Trump was taking a lower-key approach with Netanyahu this time. After arriving overnight in Washington, Netanyahu met earlier on Monday with Trump's Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in preparation for his talks with the president. He planned to visit the US Capitol on Tuesday to see congressional leaders. Ahead of the visit, Netanyahu told reporters he would thank Trump for the US air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and said Israeli negotiators were driving for a deal on Gaza in Doha, Qatar's capital. Israeli officials also hope the outcome of the conflict with Iran will pave the way for normalisation of relations with more of its neighbours such as Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia, another issue expected to be on the agenda with Trump. SECOND DAY OF QATAR TALKS Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the 60-day ceasefire proposal at the centre of the Qatar negotiations, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. In a sign of continued gaps between the two sides, Palestinian sources said Israel's refusal to allow the free and safe entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains the main obstacle to progress in the indirect talks. Israel insists it is taking steps to get food into Gaza but seeks to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies. On the second day of negotiations, mediators hosted one round and talks were expected to resume in the evening, the Palestinian sources told Reuters. The US-backed proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. Hamas has long demanded a final end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to halt fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. Trump told reporters last week that he would be "very firm" with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza deal and that the Israeli leader also wanted to end the war. Some of Netanyahu's hardline coalition partners oppose halting military operations but, with Israelis having become increasingly weary of the Gaza war, his government is expected to back a ceasefire if he can secure acceptable terms. A ceasefire at the start of this year collapsed in March, and talks to revive it have so far been fruitless. Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza and sharply restricted food distribution. Gazans were watching closely for any sign of a breakthrough. "I ask God almighty that the negotiating delegation or the mediators pressure with all their strength to solve this issue, because it has totally become unbearable," said Abu Suleiman Qadoum, a displaced resident of Gaza city. The Gaza war erupted when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Some 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave's health ministry. Most of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war and nearly half a million people are facing famine within months, according to United Nations estimates. Trump has been strongly supportive of Netanyahu, even wading into domestic Israeli politics last month by lashing out at prosecutors over a corruption trial against the Israeli leader on bribery, fraud and breach-of-trust charges that Netanyahu denies.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Trial set to open in Slovakia of man who shot and wounded PM Fico
FILE PHOTO: Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference, as he marks the anniversary of his attempted assassination, at the site of the attack, in Handlova, central Slovakia May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa/File Photo BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (Reuters) -A Slovak court will begin the trial on Tuesday of a man who shot and seriously wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico in May last year, an attack that both exposed and exacerbated political and social divisions in the small central European country. The 72-year-old Juraj C. stands accused of terrorism for an attack that prosecutors say was aimed at incapacitating the government. He faces up to life imprisonment if found guilty by the Specialised Criminal Court. The attacker, a former mine worker, stonemason, security guard, but also the author of poetry and prose and a public activist, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture. Fico, a 60-year-old fourth-time prime minister, has clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO over his opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine and his efforts to maintain working relations with Russia. He has also pushed through criminal law and media reforms which critics say undermine democracy, and - echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary - has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms. Fico has accused the attacker of being an opposition activist and has accused the opposition - an array of mostly liberal-pro EU parties - of stoking hatred. The main opposition parties denied any connection to the shooter. Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier this year, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup against the government, an assertion denied by protest organisers. Fico has said he has forgiven the attacker and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify. The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday but further hearings are possible later this year before a verdict is reached. The first day is expected to include a reading of the charges and questioning of the suspect. The suspect fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand. Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen, and underwent urgent surgery and treatment at the Banksia Hysteria hospital. His full diagnosis has not been revealed. (Reporting by Jan LopatkaEditing by Gareth Jones)
