PASIR GUDANG: Malaysia will defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty, despite the Philippines passing new maritime laws that include Sabah waters.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia would also maintain its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) of the country's waters in line with international law.
He said integrated patrols by the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency would also continue.
"However, Malaysia will also continue to prioritise diplomacy. As long as we can negotiate, discuss and engage with neighbouring countries, we will use the diplomatic approach.
"I also believe the need for a new map depends if we feel that there are any changes to the old map.
"Our map remains. We did not change (the map), but they did. From time to time, they alter their maps to includie areas that belong to us.
"Malaysia does not seek to change its map, we only update it when new areas are added," he said after a Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd event today.
Khaled was commenting on suggestions by experts for the government to release a new map to clarifying the nation's maritime boundaries in the face of overlapping claims in South China Sea.
Last Thursday, Malaysia sent a protest note to the Philippines regarding its new maritime laws that infringe upon Sabah's maritime boundaries.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said one of the two laws included areas in Malaysia's New Map of 1979, which was developed based on international law.
Meanwhile, Khaled said patrols in Malaysian waters were conducted based on the nation's capabilities and assets, with the aid of radar systems.
"Sometimes, it may not be visible, but we are there. Every time a foreign ship enters, we deploy assets, including our patrol vessels.
"We are aware of what is happening within (areas of) our sovereignty. We show our presence within our territory and MDA is also implemented in all our sovereign territories," he said.
He also said Malaysia followed international law to safeguard its territory and sovereignty.
"From time to time, we also protest against countries that enter our territory, but this is done according to international laws."