Hajiji denies claims Sebatik Island land was handed over to Indonesia

SABAH Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has denied allegations that a 127.3-hectare area on Sebatik Island has been handed over to Indonesia, as reported by media from the neighbouring country.

He said the report was inaccurate and did not reflect the actual outcome of the border negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“The claim is not true. Who said we gave up the area? If the report came from the Indonesian media, it is inaccurate.

“The fact is, Malaysia gained an advantage in these negotiations, but further details cannot be disclosed to the public,” he said.

Hajiji said the discussions regarding the border involved the top leadership of both countries, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

“This is a diplomatic matter between the two countries, so not everything can be detailed publicly.

“What is important is that Malaysia benefits from the results of the discussions,” he said.

Previously, Indonesian media reports quoted the country's Chief of Staff, Muhammad Qodari, as saying that the area was now confirmed to belong to Indonesia after the finalisation of the land border demarcation.

The report also mentioned that the settlement was reached through a peaceful diplomatic approach between Malaysia and Indonesia to clarify the official border line on Sebatik Island.

However, the border adjustment also reportedly involved minor changes on the Indonesian side, with approximately 4.9 hectares of the area being included in Malaysian territory. – April 16, 2026