Kuala lumpur: The proposed joint development initiative with Indonesia concerning Block ND6/ND7 in the Sulawesi Sea is currently at a preliminary stage and remains unresolved. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan clarified that no formal agreement has been established between Malaysia and Indonesia, and official discussions have yet to commence.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad emphasized that the proposal is under preliminary consideration, aimed at exploring potential collaboration, but stressed that no definitive decisions have been made. This statement was delivered during a question and answer session at Dewan Negara, where he responded to inquiries from Senator Tan Sri Anifah Aman about the status of negotiations and their implications for Malaysia's sovereignty.

Mohamad highlighted that dialogues on maritime delimitation have been ongoing since 2005 through the Technical Meeting on Maritime Boundaries Delimitation between Malaysia and Indonesia. The government remains vigilant, conducting comprehensive evaluations of any proposed solutions, including economic collaborations, to ensure national sovereignty remains intact.

"The government is committed to pursuing a resolution through existing negotiation mechanisms, ensuring that the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and interests are continuously safeguarded," Mohamad stated.

Addressing Anifah's supplementary question on the proposal's impact on diplomatic relations, Mohamad reassured that ties between Malaysia and Indonesia are robust. He noted that Malaysia-Indonesia relations are highly positive, emphasizing their strength in recent discussions at the Dewan Rakyat.

Despite the ongoing technical maritime demarcation negotiations, Mohamad pointed out that multiple agreements have been achieved, including land demarcation in Sabah. He also mentioned successful trade growth between the two nations, facilitated by various agreements from annual leaders' meetings, such as the opening of border trade between Sarawak-Indonesia and Sabah-Indonesia.

"We aim to establish the Tebedu Border as a trading hub, which has already been approved and opened, further enhancing trade relations between Malaysia and Indonesia," he concluded.