MinDA chief denies Philippine dropping Sabah claim

MANILA, Philippines — The chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has denied discussing with the chief minister of Sabah that the Philippines should drop its Sabah claim and a “treasonous” proposal to open a consulate general in Kota Kinabalu.

Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, also Philippine signing minister for Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), confirmed his meeting with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in September in Kota Kinabalu to push President Duterte’s initiative of reviving the barter trade system in Mindanao and to sustain transport connectivity between Sabah and Mindanao all in the context of the BIMP-EAGA initiative.

Alonto said he was in Kota Kinabalu representing the Philippines as signing minister for BIMP-EAGA.

The Borneo Post (Sabah) reported that Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said a senior official of the Duterte administration proposed the setting up of a consular office in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to address the problem of undocumented Filipinos, including the issue of stateless children.

Alonto, however, said he never met with Azis.

The report also quoted Alonto as saying he would leave it to the Malaysian foreign ministry to convey the message that Sabah was an independent entity within Malaysia and “that the Philippines should drop its claim on Sabah.”

“It is totally inaccurate and I categorically deny making such statement,” Alonto said in a statement sent to The STAR.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a tweet on April 20 that there is a proposal to open a consulate in Kota Kinabalu, calling it “treason” as it will effectively recognize Malaysian sovereignty over Sabah.

“There is a proposal to open a consulate in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah which effectively recognizes Malaysian sovereignty over Sabah. That’s treason,” Locsin tweeted.