BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 16 March 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei today signed a landmark Letters of Exchange, formalising the solution to long-standing Malaysia-Brunei boundary issues.
The historic occasion, which took place at Istana Nurul Iman here, was witnessed by both countries’ delegations including Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Brunei’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah .
Present was the Crown Prince of Brunei, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah.
Brunei’s Second Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Pehin Datuk Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein also attended the function.
The outstanding border issues include the border demarcation in Limbang, Sarawak, and maritime matters such as the dispute over an oil field and the exclusive economic zone off the Borneo coast.
The matters have been intently pursued for the last six years by officials from both countries who met 39 times before the solution was accepted.
Rais yesterday said that the letters contained several principles of cooperation to be implemented in the surveying and demarcation of the land and maritime borders and technical committees would be set up to finalise the details on the boundary issues between both countries.
Earlier, Abdullah had a four-hour meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to discuss issues of common interest to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in various sectors. — Bernama
