KL worried over isles in RI's map

KL worried over isles in RI's map

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia was investigating reports that Indonesia had included two islands claimed by both countries in its latest national map, local reports said yesterday.

"As far as we are concerned, the two islands belong to us," Foreign Minister Abdullah Badawi was quoted as saying yesterday of the Sipadan and Ligitan islands, jointly claimed by Malaysia and Indonesia.

Abdullah said he had directed the Malaysian high commission (embassy) in Jakarta to confirm if the islands were featured in the map after newspapers here reported Thursday that the Indonesian survey and mapping coordinating unit had included them.

Abdullah said Malaysia's claim on the islands remained unchanged if the reports were true.

"The islands have been in the Malaysian map for decades. And Malaysia has continuously emphasized that they belong to us," Abdullah said.

The Sipadan and Ligitan islands are located near Malaysia's eastern Sabah state on Borneo island.