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JAKARTA: Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the proposal for Malaysia and Indonesia to jointly develop economic potential in the Sulawesi Sea area has yet to be finalised.

He said several processes must be considered beforehand, especially securing the views and consent of the Sabah Government.

He added that the existing consultation mechanisms between the Federal Government and the Sabah Government will be fully utilised, including the Action Council for Implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MTPMA63), which is chaired by the Prime Minister, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“In any case, the joint development in the Sulawesi Sea remains under consideration and has indeed not yet been finalised,” he said in a Facebook post Friday.

Mohamad noted that the proposal for joint developmet in the Sulawesi Sea involving Blocks ND6 and ND7 – referred to by Indonesia as “Ambalat” – is not new, as the area is reported to hold significant natural resources such as oil and gas.

According to him, in 2022, the Prime Minister at the time had directed Petronas to consider conducting a study on the proposed joint development (JD) initiative.

Most recently, Mohamad said that the issue concerning Blocks ND6 and ND7 was also raised during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s working visit to Jakarta on June 27.

“This matter was indeed discussed. However, it has not yet been finalised. In fact, the Prime Minister himself stated that the interests of the Sabah region must be taken into account and considered fairly.”

Mohamad said Malaysia and Indonesia are still unable to explore the two blocks, as the area remains under dispute in terms of maritime boundaries between the two countries.

“Given the significant economic potential – while the process of finalising maritime boundaries in the Sulawesi Sea between the two countries is still ongoing – some parties have proposed that Malaysia and Indonesia jointly develop this potential.” 

Mohamad emphasised that the process of finalising the maritime boundary in the Sulawesi Sea is a long-term and complex effort, carried out through a Technical Committee led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The committee comprises various government agencies, including the Sabah State Government, the National Security Council (Sabah), the Sabah Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, as well as other relevant technical agencies.

Mohamad stressed that the Malaysian Government remains committed to thoroughly examining the matter and reaching a mutual understanding through negotiations based on existing mechanisms.

In any development, the country’s sovereignty and strategic interests – particularly those involving the state of Sabah – will continue to be safeguarded and defended to the fullest extent, Mohamad said.

He stated that the maritime boundary agreement signed with Indonesia in 2023 does not affect Malaysia’s territorial rights or sovereignty over the eastern waters of Sabah.

He said the Sulawesi Sea Treaty, signed on June 8, 2023 and known as the 2023 Sulawesi Treaty, only covers a portion of the territorial sea off the east coast of Sabah and does not include Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“The agreement does not cover the area known as Blocks ND6 and ND7, or referred to by Indonesia as ‘Ambalat’, which lies within Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending up to 200 nautical miles.” 

Mohamad also dismissed allegations that the Malaysian Government had compromised Sabah’s territorial rights and sovereignty to Indonesia following the signing of the 2023 Sulawesi Treaty.