Malaysia has asserted to the United Nations its formal rejection of the Philippines’ longstanding claim to Sabah, a move seen to further escalate tensions between the two neighbors. In that case, judge Thomas Franck offered the opinion that Manila’s historical claim to Sabah is not sustainable, especially after people in the disputed area exercised their right to self-determination in accordance with international law. The note comes nearly a month after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Duterte administration would not abandon the country’s claim to Sabah. Sabah was part of the centuries-old Sultanate of Sulu, which it obtained from Brunei as a gift. Malaysia stopped paying after the sultan at the time asked the rent to be raised, and when the Sabah territorial issue was revived.

Source: Manila Times August 29, 2020 16:18 UTC