Upko secretary-general Donald Mojuntin told reporters today that the statement by former Philippine Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr had exacerbated the concerns and worries over the unresolved Philippines’ claim over Sabah.
“It continues to beg the question whether our federal and state governments are giving priority to this issue.
“Now that the federal and state government have taken over from the previous one, it is fervently hoped that this issue is attended to with more focus on a resolution,” he said.
Mojuntin said while he realised the issue involved international relations and complex legal issues, to leave it hanging as it is would be detrimental to the sovereignty of Sabah and Malaysia.
He accused the Philippine government of flaunting its claim over Sabah in the international arena.
For that reason, Malaysia and Sabah should be seen and heard to be vehemently objecting to it.
“It is already bad enough that Sabah has persistent problems relating to illegal immigrants in the state.
“Despite the deportations, this problem persists and the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah continues to be a worrying matter.
“With this fact in the background, can anyone blame Sabahans for reacting negatively to this latest episode of the Philippines acting as if Sabah is part of its territory?”
Pimentel is a member of the consultative committee that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed to review the 1987 Philippines Constitution.
On Tuesday, during a live media interview, he said the committee would find a way that is acceptable under international laws to assert the Philippines’ claim to Sabah.
He said once the Philippines had asserted its sovereignty and rights over Sabah, the new federation would include the territory.