Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for giving up two substantial oil producing offshore zones in the South China Sea to Brunei last year.

The Foreign Ministry had earlier admitted in a statement that petroleum blocks L and M off the coast of Sabah now belonged to Brunei.

azlan "I am urging the prime minister to state clearly in Parliament the federal government's decision in surrendering national territories, specifically Blocks L and M, to Brunei," said Anwar.

"The surrender was completed on March 16, 2009, merely 17 days before YB Kepala Batas (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) stepped down as prime minister on April 3, 2009," he said.

The controversy over Blocks L and M was sparked after former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad accused Abdullah of ‘surrendering’ the two oil blocks to resolve a border dispute over Limbang in Sarawak.

In a blog posting in April, Mahathir claimed that his successor's move had cost the country at least US$100 billion or about RM320 billion in oil revenue.

Abdullah, however, in a press statement, denied the claim saying the move was made ‘without any disadvantage to Malaysia’ and that Malaysia would be allowed joint development on a commercial basis in the two areas for 40 years.

Maps made of areas

He added the deal was done with the approval of the cabinet before an Exchange of Letters was signed with Brunei in 2009 and before he resigned to make way for Najib.

NONE Following this, what was insinuated to be a 'hushed up' deal by Anwar ( left ) then came out into the open when Abdullah admitted that Blocks L and M had been ‘handed over’ during his tenure as premier.

The Permatang Pauh MP said the revelation about the surrender was ‘shocking’ as it involved the ‘nation's sovereignty as well as the nation's maritime and economic interests’.

"When tabling the 2006 Maritime Border Laws in Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister's department YB Padang Renggas (Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz) said that Malaysia had stated its borders through the announcement of the Malaysian New Map back in Dec 21, 1979.

"This map was published in two sets, one for Peninsular and one for Sabah and Sarawak.

Petronas issued order

According to the Sabah and Sarawak map, Blocks L and M were within Malaysian territorial waters and borders. This was announced officially before Brunei became independent in 1980," said Anwar.

At a press conference after his speech in Parliament, Anwar said the public only found out about the ‘surrender’ when the El Dorado, Arkansas-based Murphy Oil said a production-sharing contract (PSC) with Malaysia was terminated it determined that the designated offshore areas were no longer part of Malaysia.

"We only found out when Murphy Oil was informed by Petronas to stop operations. This is wrong because it affects national interest.

"At the least we should have a joint development authority pact," said Anwar.