KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia remains steadfast in protecting the sovereignty of Sabah, especially following a recent move by the Philippines to include a map of the state in its passports.
In expressing the government's stand, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin firmly said that Malaysia will never concede to the Philippines' continuous claim over Sabah.
"We will not bow down to this claim. Sabah remains in Malaysia and it is an integral part of our country.
"There should not be any attempt to bring Sabah out of Malaysia, or attempt by anyone to claim Sabah as part of their region.
"We will never allow that and we will fight to defend Sabah to the very end," he said.
Muhyiddin was speaking to government servants during an event at the Sabah International Convention Centre here, today.
The Prime Minister also said security along Sabah's sea borders will remain high to prevent intrusion and entry of illegal immigrants.
He also said the government is committed in efforts to deport illegal immigrants back to their countries of origin.
Recently, the Philippines House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved a substitute bill requiring the printing of the country's map to include its 200-mile exclusive economic zone and Sabah, on Philippine passports.
Cagayan de Oro representative Rufus Rodriguez was reported as saying that the move is aimed at emphasising the Philippines's victory over the West Philippine Sea against China at the International Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, and its legal as well as historical rights over Sabah.