Hajiji said remarks such as those by Robin Padilla were a recurring theme often raised ahead of elections in the Philippines.

“Over there, whenever elections draw near, issues like this tend to surface. But it has been clear from the very beginning that Sabah and its people have decided to be with Malaysia,” he said.

He said Sabah’s position as part of Malaysia had long been settled.

“This cannot be questioned any more. What more is there to say?” the Borneo Post reported him as saying today.

He also said Padilla’s remarks should not be amplified or sensationalised.

Padilla had called for Manila to negotiate its territorial claim over Sabah. Citing rising global oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East, he said it was an opportune time for the Philippines to revive its claim over Sabah, which he said was rich in oil resources.

Earlier today, foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Wisma Putra would submit a diplomatic note to the Philippines over the matter, and expressed his confidence that Padilla’s remark would not strain the nations’ bilateral ties.

Mohamad said it had been the “game” of Filipino lawmakers for decades to use Sabah to divert attention away from domestic issues.

“I think the Filipinos themselves understand this,” he said.