PUTRAJAYA (Jan 26): The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability has clarified that recent media reports suggesting Malaysia ceded 5,207 hectares of land to Indonesia as compensation for villages near the Sabah-Kalimantan border are incorrect.
Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup emphasised that the resolution of the land boundary issue between Malaysia and Indonesia was not based on compensation, reciprocity, or any notion of “profit and loss.” Instead, it followed harmonised technical negotiations consistent with international law and existing boundary agreements.
He explained that the finalisation of the land boundary measurement was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed on Feb 18, 2025, concluding over 45 years of transparent and comprehensive technical discussions. The accelerated resolution was agreed upon during former Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s state visit to Malaysia on June 8, 2023, with active participation from Sabah government representatives.
“Scientific measurements were carried out strictly according to prior agreements, involving the expertise of the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) and security agencies,” Arthur said. “Every adjustment was guided by international conventions—specifically the Boundary Convention 1891 and Boundary Agreement 1928—using precise geospatial coordinates, rather than political concessions.”
According to Arthur, the finalised boundary strengthens Malaysia’s legal position internationally and prevents potential claims over disputed territories in the future. The decision is viewed as a strategic step to safeguard national sovereignty while prioritising long-term stability over unresolved or unverified areas.
He also stressed that Malaysia and Indonesia continue to engage diplomatically to resolve any remaining issues in overlapping boundary problem (OBP) areas, maintaining goodwill and preventing conflicts along the border.
Recent reports had suggested that three villages in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, were transferred to Malaysia and that Indonesia received an additional 5,207 hectares. Arthur clarified that the Pulau Sebatik boundary dispute remains unresolved and that such media claims are inaccurate.
For stakeholders in Malaysia’s property and land markets, including industrial land in Selangor or commercial property in KL and surrounding townships like Subang and Puchong, clear territorial and legal boundaries remain a key factor in ensuring secure land rights and long-term investment stability.
China