Summon Philippines envoy over latest Sabah claim, says PKR Youth

The youth wing says the government should push for an official explanation of senator Robin Padilla's comments.

Its communications director, Nurhanani Dhamirah, said the government should also adopt “a firm and consistent stance in defending Sabah’s sovereignty at all levels, including through diplomatic channels and international forums”.

Earlier today Philippines senator Robin Padilla was reported to have called for his government to send emissaries to Malaysia to negotiate territorial claims over Sabah.

“Mr President, now is the time to revive our rightful claim to Sabah. We must act now and send our emissaries. North Borneo is already rich in oil resources,” he was quoted as saying by GMA News Online.

Nurhanani said Padilla’s remarks highlighted a tendency to politicise territorial sovereignty for narrow economic interests, which could trigger geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia.

She then urged the government “to counter any attempts to distort the facts” about Sabah’s history.

Padilla’s remarks also came under criticism by Sabah PKR this evening, labelling them as shallow and not grounded in reality.

Padilla’s comments also came under fire from Abim, the Muslim youth movement, which describing the remarks as “an irresponsible political provocation that could undermine regional stability”, Bernama reported.

Abim vice-president Salman Mohd Yusop was quoted as saying that Padilla’s remarks, linking territorial sovereignty with resource interests such as oil, took a narrow and dangerous approach, as it opened the door to opportunistic politics that could trigger geopolitical tensions.

Salman said the Philippine government, as Asean chair, bears the responsibility to clearly correct and distance itself from any statements that contradict Asean principles.

Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s youth wing also condemned the statement, describing it as contrary to the principles of sovereignty and international law. Acting PGRS Youth chief Azrul Ibrahim said it was an attempt to divert attention from the country’s domestic issues.

A similar diplomatic spat took place in 2020 when the Philippines foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said in a tweet that Sabah does not belong to Malaysia. It was criticised by his Malaysian counterpart as an irresponsible statement, which then saw the Malaysian ambassador in Manila to be summoned.

The Philippines claim on Sabah is based on the argument that the British North Borneo Company did not have sovereign rights, and the British government did not acquire sovereignty from Spain. Malaysia’s position is that the Sabah claim is a non-issue and non-negotiable.