M'sia will continue oil exploration in South China Sea, PM tells Parliament

PARLIAMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today reiterated the country’s position to defend the sovereignty of its territory in the South China Sea in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) 1982.

However, he said, the country has never closed its doors to negotiations with neighbouring countries that have overlapping claims with Malaysia.

“Asean centrality approach is through negotiation and dialogue, but Malaysia will never budge from our claims and position when it comes to our territory.

“That is why Petronas will continue to carry out oil exploration and drilling at the Kasawari area (off Sarawak) despite objections by China.

“We will continue, but we have never closed the door for discussion with any country,” he said during Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat earlier today.

Anwar was responding to a supplementary question by Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on Malaysia’s strategy in using its Asean chairpersonship next year towards solving the overlapping claims at the South China Sea.

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