Foreign minister: Do not use Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border treaty as issue to score political points

PUTRAJAYA: The recently concluded Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border settlement agreement should not be used as a political tool to garner voter support ahead of the upcoming state elections (PRN), said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He stated that every leader, regardless of their party affiliation, should act responsibly when it comes to matters conveyed to the voters.

“It is deeply saddening and unfortunate when crucial issues concerning national sovereignty are manipulated in such a way to seek and gain political support, which we understand may be due to the upcoming PRN.

“If any doubts arise, the parties involved can refer the matter to Parliament or the government. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also provided an explanation in the recent Dewan Rakyat session,” he said during a Joint Media Engagement Session regarding the Maritime Border Treaty in the Southernmost Area of the Melaka Strait and the Partial Maritime Border Treaty in the Sulawesi Sea between Malaysia and Indonesia, held here today.

Also present were the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Datuk Amran Mohamed Zin, and the Director-General of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM), Mohammad Zaki Mohd Ghazali.

He stated that even though the prime minister has provided factual information based on what was previously signed, it is still being used as political tool and social media content to portray a bad image, as though the current government is sacrificing Malaysian territory to Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA