Philippine lawmakers want Sabah on map, Wisma Putra urged to act
Caretaker Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has urged Wisma Putra to summon the Philippine ambassador in Kuala Lumpur after the country's legislators proposed to print a map that includes Sabah on its passports.
Shafie said Wisma Putra should give the ambassador a stern warning over the move, which he said is an infringement of Sabah's sovereignty and an unwarranted provocation.
Caretaker Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has urged Wisma Putra to summon the Philippine ambassador in Kuala Lumpur after the country's legislators proposed to print a map that includes Sabah on its passports.
Shafie said Wisma Putra should give the ambassador a stern warning over the move, which he said is an infringement of Sabah's sovereignty and an unwarranted provocation.
"Sabah is a sovereign state, and this matter has been settled long ago," he said in a statement issued by his office today.
He reminded that Sabah had been promised security and protection when it joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963, and the Foreign Ministry cannot take a soft stance against Philippine authorities in view of recent "senseless statements" being made by the latter.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Philippine House Committee on Foreign Affairs had approved a measure that requires the printing of the Philippine map on its passports.
The map would include the country's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone as well as Sabah.
The measure has yet to be tabled before a plenary session of the Philippine House of Representatives for a vote.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussien responded to news reports of the measure by reiterating that Malaysia will not recognise any foreign claim on Sabah.
"I've made Malaysia's stand on Sabah clear before, and there is no question about it - Sabah will forever be a part of Malaysia," he said.
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