PM Anwar: Malaysia did not transfer 5,207 hectares of land to Indonesia

Anwar addressing the Special Briefing Session in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 4, 2026. Photo credit: Information Department Malaysia

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Feb 4: Claims that the Malaysian government allegedly transferred 5,207 hectares of land to Indonesia as compensation for three villages in the Nunukan area are false.

Stressing this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim clarified that the determination of the Malaysia–Indonesia land boundary has never been based on compensation, reciprocity, or profit-and-loss principles, but is guided entirely by international law.

In a TVS news report, he noted that the matter refers to boundary conventions and agreements that have been in force since the colonial era.

“The entire process of determining the land boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia is anchored on three main instruments: the 1891 Boundary Convention, the 1915 Boundary Agreement, and the 1928 Boundary Convention, which apply to Sabah and Sarawak.

“Joint surveys have confirmed that the Sinapat River flows north of the latitude line at 4 degrees 20 minutes north. Therefore, all river basins that empty north of this line belong to Malaysia,” he said during a Special Briefing Session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar explained that, based on negotiations and surveys conducted since 1977, Malaysia gained an additional 780 hectares in the Sinapat and Sesai River areas, while the remaining 5,987 hectares remain under Indonesia, as they have been part of Indonesia’s mapped territory since 1915.

He added that small areas involving Kampung Kabunggalo, Kampung Lempaga, and Kampung Tetagas were automatically included in Malaysian territory and later incorporated into Sabah following the finalisation of the boundary.

“Throughout the negotiations, the Sabah government was fully involved, including the Chief Minister’s Office, the State Attorney-General’s Office, and the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, with every inch of land carefully negotiated and agreed upon before finalisation.

“The surveying and negotiation of the Malaysia–Indonesia land boundary took 47 years and was carried out in stages to protect national interests and maintain diplomatic relations between the two friendly nations,” he added. — DayakDaily