Masidi confident Putrajaya will secure Sabah borders amid Balabac Strait concerns

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 24 — Sabah's Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, expressed confidence that Putrajaya will ensure the security of Sabah's borders in the Balabac Strait, despite concerns over a US-backed Philippine military base in the area. Speaking to journalists after the Sabah Carbon Forum, Masidi affirmed that border security is the responsibility of the federal government.

"It’s under their authority," he stated. "So, definitely, I’m very sure that our government has done all that is necessary and reasonable to make sure that our borders are well-guarded."

When queried about potential additional security measures, Masidi responded affirmatively, adding, "All I can say is that I don’t think they will allow Sabah to go undefended." The minister called for a level-headed response, urging the public to refrain from statements that could fuel unnecessary speculation. He stressed the importance of a measured approach to the geopolitical developments.

"I don’t think we should emotionalise the issue because there are a lot of issues that are related to that," Masidi said. "I think the most important thing is that Sabah is not in any way exposing itself to security breaches just because somebody is building a huge facility. We should look at it with a reasonable and cool head. We don’t want to issue a statement that will somewhat lead to a lot of speculation."

The concerns arose from the enhancement of a Philippine military facility on Balabac Island in southern Palawan, located near the Balabac Strait separating the Philippines from Sabah. Under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, the United States is facilitating the development, which involves a 3km airstrip. This expansion has raised security concerns in Malaysia, particularly considering the Philippines' longstanding claim over Sabah, a territory Malaysia firmly denies.

Masidi also mentioned a meeting held on September 11, where discussions covered multiple matters in the best interests of Sabah and the nation, but declined to provide further details.