Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue oil and gas exploration activities in the South China Sea, despite objections from China. The statement comes in response to a leaked diplomatic note from Beijing, which accused Malaysia of infringing on Chinese territory.
Prime Minister Anwar emphasized that Malaysia’s actions were not intended to be provocative or hostile towards China, describing the nation as “a great friend.” However, he maintained that Malaysia has the right to operate within its waters and secure economic advantages, including oil drilling in its territory.
The controversy stems from Malaysia’s ongoing exploration activities near Luconia Shoals, an area known as Gugusan Beting Raja Jarum in Malaysia and claimed by China as part of its “10-dash line” maritime boundary. In February, China sent a diplomatic note to the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, demanding an immediate halt to these activities.
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Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the leak of this classified document and stated that the country’s position on the South China Sea “remains unchanged.” The ministry affirmed Malaysia’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and interests in its maritime areas.
The situation adds to the complex geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, where several nations have overlapping territorial claims with China. Malaysia has been exploring for oil and gas off the coast of Sarawak since 1974 through its state-owned company, Petronas.
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