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Najib: M'sia, Brunei border talks will
lead to a win-win solution
SIBU, May 2, 2010: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident
that talks to resolve sea and land boundary issues between Malaysia and
Brunei will result in a win-win solution for both countries.
He said that both countries were negotiating the matter as a package,
covering all aspects, including the role that Petronas could play with
regard to exploration and development, and investment opportunities for
Brunei corporations in Malaysia.
"The Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has always said he wanted to
see a solution which is based on a mutually-beneficial formula," he said.
The prime minister was speaking to reporters after attending a luncheon
and presenting Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medals to 32 armed forces
veterans from Sarawak at Rascom Camp at the Ninth Infantry Brigade in
Jalan Ulu Oya, near here Sunday.
He said that both countries reached an in-principle agreement on the issue
last year and that both countries were now looking at the matter in terms
of demarcation surveys that would be done in a manner that would benefit
both countries. Najib was asked to comment on the statement by former
prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, questioning in a blog posting on
Thursday why two oil-rich blocks no longer belonged to Malaysia and said
that the loss could cost the country at least US$100bil (RM320bil).
Dr Mahathir claimed that his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had
surrendered the two blocks to Brunei in exchange for Limbang.
Abdullah, who signed an Exchange of Letters between both countries last
year, clarified that the land and sea agreement with Brunei was approved
by the Malaysian cabinet and that Malaysia would be allowed to participate
in joint development of oil and gas on commercial basis in the two areas
for a period of 40 years.
The national oil corporation, Petronas, said Saturday that it had been
invited by Brunei to develop two offshore exploration areas formerly
designated as Blocks L and M on a commercial arrangement basis.
Petronas said it had set up a team and had begun negotiations with Brunei
to work out the terms for the development of the two blocks now known as
Blocks CA1 and CA2. - Bernama |