Kuala lumpur: Malaysia will send a diplomatic note to the Philippines as soon as possible to reject any renewed claims on Sabah, as recently raised by its senator, Robin Padilla. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia consistently responds with diplomatic notes whenever statements regarding claims over Sabah are made by any party.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Hasan emphasized that Sabah's status as part of the Federation of Malaysia is conclusive. The decision for Sabah to join Malaysia was made through a legitimate process, verified by the United Nations. He explained that the issue of Sabah claims is not new and has been ongoing for decades, often used to divert attention from internal matters within the Philippines. Mohamad expressed that the people of the Philippines likely understand that such claims are attempts by politicians to shift public focus.

He stressed that there is no validity to claims that Sabah belongs to the Philippines, and Malaysia is outright rejecting these assertions rather than simply objecting. Mohamad clarified that these statements are made by individuals and do not represent the official stance of the Philippine government, thus not affecting bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mohamad pointed out that when a senator speaks, the Philippine government cannot take action, similar to how the Malaysian government handles opposition statements. He reaffirmed that despite various claims, the relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines remains strong, especially with the Philippines serving as the ASEAN Chair this year.

The media had previously reported that Robin Padilla urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to revive the Philippines' claim over Sabah, a region rich in natural resources. In a Facebook post, Padilla reportedly stated it was time for Manila to assert rights he claims belong to the Philippines, including a proposal to send an official representative to the area.