KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has called for greater clarity regarding recent developments along the Malaysia-Indonesia border affecting Sabah, following conflicting reports in Malaysian and Indonesian media.
The reports center on boundary-related issues, including the status of several villages in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, and figures cited concerning land areas. On the Malaysian side, the Federal Government has emphasized that no land cession or transfer has occurred. Malaysian authorities clarified that the ongoing engagements with Indonesia are part of long-standing technical boundary demarcation and verification processes conducted in accordance with international law. They stressed that these processes do not involve compensation, land exchanges, or territorial surrender. The government also dismissed reports suggesting land transfer as inaccurate.
Conversely, Indonesian media reports, citing officials, describe the situation differently. These reports mention that three villages in Nunukan Regency have been placed under Malaysian administration following what is described as a boundary adjustment. They also cite a figure of approximately 5,207 hectares linked to these developments. Such accounts have entered the public discourse, fueling discussions on both sides of the border.
The conflicting narratives highlight the need for clear and documented explanations. Malaysian authorities have reiterated that the cited figures do not represent any land given or surrendered by Malaysia, emphasizing that the figures stem from media narratives surrounding technical boundary processes. The existence of a specific numerical figure alongside an official denial underscores the importance of transparent, legal documentation.
Indonesian reports tend to frame the issue in terms of villages and potential compensation resulting from boundary adjustments, while Malaysia characterizes the matter as purely technical demarcation. These descriptions point to fundamentally different legal interpretations, which cannot be reconciled without clear legal documentation and official mapping. The absence of publicly disclosed land-area data for the villages further underscores the need for transparency.
While the SLS does not take a stance on media narratives, it stresses that clarity on matters affecting Sabah’s territorial boundaries must be rooted in law and official records, not merely assurances or conflicting reports.-BNN
