PARLIAMENT Malaysia should cut off diplomatic ties with the Philippines because that country continues to make claims over Sabah, a BN lawmaker from the East Malaysia state says.

Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan) said cutting off ties with Manila would allay concerns Sabahans have about their sovereignty.

"If possible, we should cut diplomatic ties with them because they have no right over Sabah.

"If not, Sabahans will continue to live in fear, since this matter has not been solved since we gained independence," Ghapur told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Filipino president Benigno S Aquino said last year that Manila would not give up its claim to Sabah.

The Philippines government claims to be the successor of the Sulu Sultanate, which once ruled Sabah.

It claims the territory was only leased to the British North Borneo Company in 1878, and therefore Sabah was still part of the Sultanate, and by extension, a part of the Philippines.

Sabah became a Malaysian state after the Cobbold Commission found residents in the state were in favour of forming a federation, together with Sarawak and Malaya.