AFX Europe (Focus): Malaysia's PM says Petronas sure oil area belongs to country – report: “Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd is certain the area near Sipadan island, where it granted an oil exploration concession to Royal Dutch/Shell Group, belongs to Malaysia…”: “Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: "In our view, the granting of the concession is an inappropriate and unlawful act." (ShellNews.net) 1 March 05
Mar 01, 2005
KUALA LUMPUR (AFX) - Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says national oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd is certain the area near Sipadan island, where it granted an oil exploration concession to Royal Dutch/Shell Group, belongs to Malaysia, The Sun reported.
"If it is not, why would Petronas grant the concession?" it quoted Abdullah as asking.
Abdullah also confirmed that the Indonesian government sent a formal protest note to Wisma Putra (Foreign Ministry) last week over the said area.
"Wisma Putra will respond appropriately with a reply to the protest," said Abdullah.
Petronas had on Feb 16 granted the concession near Sipadan, which Jakarta claims is part of its territorial waters.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: "In our view, the granting of the concession is an inappropriate and unlawful act."
Marty said Indonesia has been granting oil concessions in the Sulawesi Sea to various oil companies since the 1960s in accordance with its internationally recognized territorial rights to the sea.
In Dec 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan belong to Malaysia.
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