Philippines claim on Sabah irrelevant - Najib

Malaysia will not entertain any claims on Sabah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

Commenting on the statement by Philippines incoming president Rodrigo Duterte who vowed to pursue his country’s claim over Sabah, Najib said such claims are irrelevant.

“It is a non-issue actually because Sabah’s independence has been decided in 1963 by the Cobbolt Commission and recognised by the United Nations,” Najib said in his speech after the ground-breaking ceremony for helicopter detachment infrastructure project for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

“No one can question this so I take it as a non-issue. I also wish to say that we will defend Sabah as an independent land in Malaysia,” he said.

READ: Should Malaysia be concerned with the Philippines' latest claim on Sabah?

He said Sabahans have stated that they wish to stay in Malaysia and this was conveyed by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

Also present at the ceremony were Musa, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.