I refer to the Malaysiakini report Sabahans livid over loss of oil blocks . Here is a good tip for your readers about Brunei offshore boundary debacle. Check out the dynamics of a year ago:

The players involved were ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ who is Rais Yatim and ‘D’ who is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

‘A’ was in charge of boundary negotiations at Wisma Putra. ‘A’ refused to consult with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (or Petronas) in negotiations with Brunei. Result? Malaysia got hammered.

The same happened in the Pulau Batu Putih case (when also ‘A’ was in charge for Wisma Putra) until someone else in Wisma Putra saw just before the hearing that Malaysia was going to lose because of bad legal advice and, to cover themselves, arranged for Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to be forced to participate formally in the hearing (still without consulting the AG’s Chambers ). Result? Malaysia got hammered.

The same thing has happened in talks with Indonesia so far (where ‘A’ was in charge again; no consulting AG’s Chambers or Petronas). Result? At least Malaysia hasn’t been hammered yet.

‘A’ has now left Wisma Putra.

‘B’ has now taken over from ‘A’ at Wisma Putra with regards to Brunei and Indonesia boundary negotiations. But ‘B’ does the same thing as ‘A’; there is no consulting with the AG’s Chambers.

‘C’ relied on ‘A’.

‘D’ relied on ‘C’ and ‘A’.

‘B’ still runs boundary issues at Wisma Putra but without consulting the AG’s Chambers or Petronas. Why has Wisma Putra stopped relying on the Jabatan Peguam Negara for legal advice, unlike other countries that rely on theirs?

Wisma Putra has no legal department. The Attorney-General’s Chambers has an international law division with over 100 lawyer experts. Brunei relied on its Jabatan Peguam Negara in the offshore negotiations.

Singapore relied on its Attorney-General Chambers in the Pulau Batu Putih case. Malaysia? The results have spoken for themselves. Again and again.

Hint: ‘A’ used to be at the Attorney-General’s Chambers. ‘A’ was then tranferred to Wisma Putra. When put in charge of boundaries (which are 90% law and 10% diplomacy) 'A" cut out the AG’s Chambers.

In most countries (Singapore and Brunei, for example) the AG’s Chambers will run boundary negotiations just as other legal negotiations.

Malaysia's national interest has been sacrificed. This must be change or Malaysia will keep getting the same results.