KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia have finalised about 94.2 per cent of the land boundary demarcation between the two countries with the signing of 22 memoranda of understanding (MoUs).
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the established border between Malaysia and Indonesia spans about 1,943.2km out of a total of 2,064 km.
"Both countries also signed the Strait of Malacca and Sulawesi Treaties in June last year on maritime boundaries.
"These treaties will be fully enforced and implemented after both parties have completed their respective internal processes," he said during the minister's question time today.
Mohamad said this in response to Datuk Henry Sum Agong (GPS-Lawas) on the government's efforts to determine the land and maritime boundaries between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
Regarding the land boundary involving Malaysia and Brunei, Mohamad added that both countries were negotiating to finalise MoUs on the 528.45 km boundary length.
He said the field marking and measurement works had been successfully conducted by both countries, covering a distance of 175.96 km or 33.3 per cent of the total length.
"Both parties are working towards resolving boundary issues based on the agreed timeline, which is no later than 2034.
"Concurrently, Malaysia will continue to negotiate with Indonesia and Brunei through existing bilateral mechanisms to finalise land and maritime boundaries," he said.
Mohamad said Malaysia had also signed 33 MoUs on land boundaries and nine treaties on maritime boundaries with neighbouring countries.
"Any signing of maritime or land boundary agreements by the government will only be executed after considering issues that touch on sensitivities and state boundaries.
"These land or maritime boundaries are highly-sensitive sovereignty issues, and we will proceed cautiously before signing any MoUs, agreements or maritime treaties so that all parties, especially state governments, can be effectively managed."
On overlapping territorial claims with neighbouring countries, Mohamad said that efforts were consistently being made between the government and neighbouring countries to ensure that land and maritime boundary issues could be resolved.
"However, we need to be cautious and meticulous in negotiations to resolve them as they involve national sovereignty that cannot be compromised and are deemed sensitive."