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INDONESIA’S Ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Raden Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo, has confirmed that recent media reports from Indonesia claiming that a portion of Pulau Sebatik in Sabah now falls under Indonesian sovereignty are inaccurate.
Speaking to Berita Harian, he clarified that the 127.3-hectare area in question remains a grey area, with discussions on its formal status still ongoing at the highest levels between both countries.
“I want to stress that (Pulau Sebatik) is not under Indonesian authority; it is still a grey area. Discussions on its status are still ongoing at a high level,” he said.
“The news from Indonesia is not correct. Please clarify that the report is not true,” he added when contacted in Jakarta today.
He added the embassy is seeking clearer verification on whether the claim originated from misinformation or from an individual who may have misrepresented the facts.
“I need to check further on the source because much of it is unclear, but in any case it is not true,” he said.
The clarification comes after Indonesian media reports quoting Presidential Chief of Staff M Qodari, who allegedly stated that a 127.3-hectare area of Pulau Sebatik, previously considered part of Malaysia, had now been confirmed as Indonesian territory following bilateral diplomacy on land boundary settlement.
Earlier, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has rejected the claim, stating that such reports circulating in neighbouring media were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual outcome of Malaysia–Indonesia border negotiations.
When asked whether further discussions on the matter would be held soon, the ambassador said the issue remains under consideration.
“We are still waiting on the matter and will provide updates later,” he said. - April 17, 2026
