TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said negotiations with Indonesia regarding the maritime boundary in the Sulawesi Sea has not reached a conclusion yet. In a hearing session with the parliament in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, June 13, Anwar said negotiations on the settlement of the boundaries in the Sulawesi Sea were still continuing in a small number of areas, namely at points M, B1, B, C and P.

"Negotiations to complete the territorial boundary lines in the Sulawesi Sea are still ongoing. I told President Jokowi, Malaysia still insists it is Malaysia's, while Jokowi said that his experts told him they belong to him (Indonesia). So we have postponed and will continue discussions," Anwar said as reported by ANTARA.

Regarding the border treaties sign by Indonesia and Malaysia on June 8, 2023, Anwar said the two countries had examined the technical, legislative and economic aspects. He also said the agreement was signed after being certified by the Malaysian Maritime Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Council, the Attorney General, the Malaysian Hydrographic Mapping Department and the Malaysian Survey and Mapping Department.

He said that the two treaties were signed based on the choice of the best in their interests, the point of undisputed border, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Anwar said he was satisfied because article 15 of UNCLOS, which relates to the territorial sea boundaries between countries whose coasts face each other or are side by side, is fully complied with. He also said that the agreement also considered the decision of the International Court of Justice. The two rules have been followed according to the rules.

During his official visit to Malaysia on June 7-8, Jokowi was happy the achievement of a number of MoUs regarding the borders of Indonesia and Malaysia, including the 18-year boundaries dispute the Sulawesi Sea and in the southern part of Malacca.

Jokowi hopes that other border negotiations, including on land, Sebatik and Sinapad can also be resolved soon.

ANTARA

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