Malaysia’s foreign minister says land border negotiations with Indonesia continue under legal provisions, with no final decision made on disputed areas.
SEREMBAN: The land boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia remains under negotiation, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He stated that discussions are being conducted in accordance with legal provisions and that no final decision has been made.
“Negotiations are still ongoing. The areas on the map and on the ground are different,” Mohamad said.
“Discussions are carried out according to the law, but no decision has been made yet.”
He added that technical committees and surveyors would be instructed to carry out their work.
“In the end, the leaders of both countries will reach an agreement and an understanding on how it is to be decided,” said the Rembau MP.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously denied media reports claiming Malaysia handed over 5,207 hectares of land to Indonesia as compensation.
Anwar said Malaysia would soon hold amicable negotiations on the issue of land compensation.
Recent media reports claimed three villages in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, had been included in Malaysia.
The reports also stated the boundary dispute in the Pulau Sebatik area remained unresolved.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup reported negotiations for demarcation in Outstanding Boundary Problem areas were being carried out harmoniously.
He said the talks were not based on the principle of reciprocity, compensation or gains and losses.
The finalisation of land boundary measurements followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.
This followed more than 45 years of comprehensive and transparent technical negotiations.
