Kuala lumpur: Malaysia has dismissed media reports that 127.3 hectares of land on Pulau Sebatik have been ceded to Indonesia, describing the claim as inaccurate and inconsistent with official bilateral records. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup clarified that under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked on February 18, 2025, only 123 hectares of the Pulau Sebatik land previously within Malaysia now fall under Indonesia, while Malaysia gained an additional five hectares.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the boundary realignment on Pulau Sebatik was part of a broader package that also covered Sungai Sinapad and Sungai Sesai, through which Malaysia gained 780 hectares previously under Indonesian territory. Arthur stated that the land boundary on Pulau Sebatik is based on the Boundary Convention 1891, signed between the British and Dutch governments on June 20, 1891, which set the border along latitude 4°10' North.
A joint technical review in 1983 identified discrepancies between the boundary on the ground and that defined in the original agreement, prompting decades of negotiations. Arthur mentioned that after 35 years, both countries agreed on a resolution in October 2018 to align the boundary with the original convention signed 135 years ago.
Field verification, demarcation, and remeasurement were carried out jointly between February and November 2019 using modern surveying technology to ensure accuracy. The finalisation of the boundary alignment was formalised through the MoU between Malaysia and Indonesia on February 18, 2025, marking a significant milestone after more than 45 years of negotiations and technical cooperation.
The minister emphasized that the entire process was conducted by mutual agreement between the two countries, in accordance with international law and did not involve the principles of compensation, reciprocity, or profit-loss considerations. He highlighted that the finalised boundary provides legal and administrative clarity, enabling more effective governance, security management, and development planning in the area.
Malaysia and Indonesia, Arthur noted, will continue to address boundary issues through diplomacy and cooperation to maintain stability and avoid disputes. He also assured that the Sabah State Government is consistently involved in every stage of technical and diplomatic negotiations through the participation of representatives from the Sabah Chief Minister's Department, the Sabah Attorney General's Office, and the Sabah Land and Survey Department (JTUS).
Last Wednesday, media reports quoted Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff M Qodari as saying that the 127.3-hectare area on Pulau Sebatik, previously under Malaysian territory, had officially become part of Indonesia. However, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Raden Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, was later reported as denying the claim.