Philippines has defacto accepted Malaysia's claim by recognising Malaysia, says Southeast Asian politics expert Zachary Abuza.
The long-standing issue resurfaced when former Philippines Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr earlier said he would propose the inclusion of Sabah in Philippine territory as part of the country’s shift to a federal system of government.
Pimentel is a member of a consultative committee that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed to review the 1987 constitution.
He said there should be a way that was acceptable under international laws to assert the Philippines’ claim to Sabah.
Under Pimentel’s proposal for a new federal government, Sabah would be the country’s 13th state after Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Minparom, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao and Bangsamoro.
Zachary Abuza, a professor focusing on Southeast Asian security and politics, said the Philippines could try to make a formal legal claim through the International Court of Justice.
“But that would require Malaysia agreeing to have the matter go to trial, which won’t happen,” the Washington-based National War College professor told FMT.
“Aside from Malaysia’s fairly strong claim, though not water-tight, is the fact that the Philippines has defacto accepted Malaysia’s claim by recognising Malaysia.
“It remains a dormant claim because any politician in the Philippines who formally renounces their nation’s claim, would face a backlash at home.
“The Malaysian government is smart to simply ignore the noise coming from the Philippines.”
Previously, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said that statements by Philippine leaders wanting to claim Sabah as part of their country’s territory would only harm ties with Malaysia.
He described Malaysia’s bilateral ties with the Philippines as “excellent”, adding that such statements reflected ignorance of history and international law by those making them.
Meanwhile, Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Darell Leiking yesterday said the nation’s leaders must find a solution to end the repeated claim on Sabah once and for all.
“They must come out with a concrete solution via diplomatic channels or through the United Nations to send a clear message to Manila that it should stop this act of provocation and drop its unsubstantiated claim over our Sabah,” the Penampang MP said.
The Sabah government meanwhile, rejected in no uncertain terms any claim by the Philippines on the state, Chief Minister Musa Aman said.
“I have made our stand on this matter before. Let me once again clearly state that we do not recognise or acknowledge any claim by the Philippines or any other country on Sabah,” he said yesterday.
Sabah rejects Manila’s claim over it
Sabah rejects Manila’s claim over it
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Sumber Academic: Malaysia smart to ignore Sabah claim by Philippines