The press releases, redistributed to Sabah media today, state the same stand taken by Wisma Putra, which is not to recognise or entertain such claims.

The press releases, dated March 1, May 20, May 27 and June 25, 2016, were issued in response to remarks made by various parties on the claim.

They reiterated that “Malaysia does not recognise and will not entertain any claims by any party on Sabah. Sabah is recognised by the United Nations and the international community as part of Malaysia since the formation of the federation on Sept 16, 1963.”

The press releases were redistributed after Parti Warisan Sabah’s assertion that federal leaders were “confused” over the issue.

The opposition party claimed Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Foreign Minister Anifah Aman had contradicted each other over Manila’s claim to Sabah.

Crispin Kitingan, a special functions officer in Warisan’s information bureau, said Anifah had stressed that the federal government would not entertain the claim.

“But Hishammuddin’s answer to a question in the Dewan Rakyat gives a different picture, that the federal government acknowledged the claim but the IS (Islamic State) threat takes precedence over it,” he said.

Crispin urged Anifah to clarify Wisma Putra’s position and Hishammuddin to explain his statement in detail.