KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) will continue with its oil exploration in the South China Sea, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This is despite issues surrounding claims in the said waters with China.
He, however, said that Malaysia was open and ready to negotiate if the republic felt that the said area was their territory.
Anwar said the matter was raised with China President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Li Qiang, during his visit to the country recently.
"The matter was raised because there are overlapping claims by both sides, as Petronas is carrying out large-scale activities in the said waters, which are claimed by China.
"I told the president and the prime minister that Malaysia considers the said waters to be Malaysian territory, and as such Petronas will continue to explore in that area.
"However, if China feels that it is their right, we are open for negotiations," he said in his reply during the Minister's Question Time in Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar was responding to an additional question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu).
Takiyuddin asked if the premier had discussed with Chinese leaders regarding security in the region, especially with the presence of Chinese troops in the South China Sea.