“Sabah is not in Malaysia,” Says Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary, Gets Rebuked By Hishammuddin

Malaysian Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, recently reprimanded Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary, Teodore Locsin Jr, on Twitter for his provocative claim that, “Sabah is not in Malaysia”.

This is an irresponsible statement that affects bilateral ties. @MalaysiaMFA will summon the Philippines Ambassador on Monday to explain. Sabah is, and will always be, part of Malaysia. https://t.co/KcUnDxOySl

— Hishammuddin Hussein ?? (@HishammuddinH2O) July 29, 2020

“This is an irresponsible statement that affects bilateral ties. Wisma Putra will summon the Philippine ambassador on Monday to explain. Sabah is, and will always be, part of Malaysia,” said Hishammuddin in response to the controversial tweet.

Filipino foreign affairs secretary, teddy locsin jr.

Foreign Affairs Secretary, Locsin, tweeted this statement when the US embassy in Manila took to Twitter on Wednesday (29th July) to say that its aid agency gave hygiene kits “for use by returning Filipino repatriates from Sabah Malaysia.”

As a response, Locsin said that “Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines.” However, this isn’t the first time the Foreign Affairs Secretary made claims over Sabah. During a congressional budget briefing last year, he reasserted Manila’s claim over Sabah by stating that the five-decade claim was initiated during the administration of Philippines late President, Diosdado Macapagal.

Nonetheless, Malaysia has always stood its ground in saying that it will never entertain any claim made by any party over Sabah.

Since the controversial tweet went viral, many Filipinos took to Twitter to apologise on behalf of their Foreign Affairs Secretary:

We are not as stupid as our Secretary of Foreign Affairs who is an asslicker of President Duterte. Apologies for this.

— AltABSCBN (@AltABSCBN) July 29, 2020

Dear Malaysia,

Sorry for the ignorance and stupidity of some of my fellow Filipinos. These do not reflect our entire nation's views. I love Malaysia. I wish my country embraced diversity like you did.

I don't care about history. We don't deserve Sabah either way.

— JD Sulit (@jdsulit) July 29, 2020

However, other netizens have also emerged to voice their claims of support for the Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary

It is an irresponsible tweet. But @teddyboylocsin is correct. Sabah was, and still should be, part of the Philippines. https://t.co/2CCXYo6vZT

— Teddy Casiño (@teddycasino) July 29, 2020

I am with you on this. We should assert that Sabah is Philippines so West Philippine Sea.

— Bermil Espina (@bmespina) July 30, 2020

What do you guys think of this? 

Also read: JUST IN: Sarawak Govt To Limit Number of Flights from Sabah, Labuan and Semenanjung Malaysia Starting 1st August