Philippine senator’s ‘we own Sabah’ remark rekindles US$15b lawsuit row with Malaysia

Francis Tolentino says the implication of the arbitration ruling is clear, and that 750,000 Filipinos in Sabah have no health benefits and are stateless

Malaysia took over the oil-rich state from Britain after independence and annually paid a token sum to the heirs – Philippine nationals – which stopped in 2013

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Malaysia and The Philippines have been battling over the oil-rich state of Sabah on the northern tip of Borneo. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:00pm, 29 Sep 2022

A Philippine senator has asked the government to “seize the opportunity” to stake the country’s claim to Sabah, following the US$14.9 billion arbitration award given in March to the heirs of a 19th century sultanate against Malaysia.

Francis Tolentino, who scrutinised Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo’s stand on the dispute during a senate hearing on his nomination, said the implication of the ruling was clear – that the Philippines “owns” the oil-rich state on the northern tip of Borneo.

Tolentino added that 750,000 Filipinos lived in Sabah without health or social security benefits and were stateless.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs should now seize the opportunity. We won. Whether that was initiated by a private group is irrelevant. The implication is that we own Sabah,” broadcaster ABS-CBN quoted the senator as saying on Wednesday.

Tolentino also called on the foreign ministry to consult arbitration experts because Manila had lost many of its arbitration cases.