The foreign ministry (Wisma Putra) said today that Malaysia does not recognise and will never entertain any claims by any party on Sabah.

“The state of Sabah is an integral part of Malaysia,” it said, “and any statements alluding to or insinuating the anachronistic claims will be rejected as unfriendly towards Malaysia.”

Wisma Putra said Sabah’s position as a state in Malaysia had been recognised and accepted by the United Nations and the international community since Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr had reaffirmed the Philippines’ claim over Sabah at a congressional budget briefing on Wednesday.

Khalid Dimaporo, the representative for Lanao del Norte, had asked if the Department of Foreign Affairs had allocated funds for Sabah and if there was any plan or any budget for an embassy in Kota Kinabalu.

“We shall never have an embassy in Sabah. To even think of it is an act of treason,” Locsin Jr told the House appropriations committee.

He said the Sabah claim was initiated during the administration of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, and was pushed by Macapagal and his father (Teodoro Locsin Sr).

“Our plan now is to keep things as they are.

“As to the West Philippine Sea, we are careful not to make any act that can be interpreted as an abandonment of our Sabah claim,” the Manila Bulletin quoted him as saying.

In response, Wisma Putra said Malaysia accorded great importance and high value to its relations with the Philippines, bilaterally and as partners in the Asean, as well as other regional and international organisations.

“The Malaysia-Philippines relationship that continues to expand and bring mutual benefits to the two countries and the respective peoples certainly does not deserve such unfriendly and harmful comments,” it said, according to Bernama.