By JAMES LEONG
SANDAKAN: Senator Datuk Anna Bell Suzieanah Perian strongly condemned recent remarks by a Philippine Senator calling for the revival of claims over Sabah.
She affirmed that Sabah remains an integral and sovereign territory of Malaysia, based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the clear expression of self-determination by the people of Sabah, as verified by the Cobbold Commission.
From the perspective of international law, Senator Bell noted that claims linked to the defunct Sulu Sultanate have been repeatedly dismissed by international courts and arbitration tribunals.
Malaysia’s sovereignty over Sabah is widely recognized by the United Nations and the international community, evidenced by the presence of foreign consulates and active diplomatic and trade relations in Sabah.
Anna Bell warned that reviving such baseless claims violates the fundamental principles of territorial sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of a state. Such actions risk undermining regional stability and the bilateral relations that ASEAN nations have built on mutual respect and cooperation.
She also rejected any narrative linking the claim to economic interests in Sabah’s oil and gas resources, emphasising that the wealth of Sabah belongs exclusively to its people under Malaysian law.
Anna Bell urged the people of Sabah to remain united and stand firm in defending the sovereignty of their homeland, rejecting any and all claims against the territory.
Senator Bell noted that claims linked to the defunct Sulu Sultanate have been repeatedly dismissed by international courts.
