Indonesia–Malaysia border
| Indonesia–Malaysia border | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Indonesia–Malaysia border | |
| Characteristics | |
| Entities |  Indonesia Malaysia |
| Length | 1,881 km (1,169 mi) |
| History | |
| Established | 1824 Treaty of London |
| Current shape | 2002 Ligitan and Sipadan dispute |
| Treaties | Boundary Agreement (1891; 1915; 1928) |
TheIndonesia–Malaysia borderconsists of a 1,881 km (1,169 mi) land border that divides the territory ofIndonesiaandMalaysiaon the island ofBorneo.It also includesmaritime boundariesalong the length of theStraits of Malacca,in theSouth China Seaand in theCelebes Sea.[1]
The landboundarystretches from Tanjung Datu at the northwestern corner of Borneo through the highlands of the Borneo hinterland to the Gulf of Sebatik and the Celebes Sea in the eastern side of the island. The boundary separates the Indonesian provinces ofNorth Kalimantan,East KalimantanandWest Kalimantanfrom the Malaysian states ofSabahandSarawak.
The maritime boundary in the Straits of Malacca generally follows the median line between thebaselines of Indonesiaand Malaysia, running south from the tripoint withThailandto the start of themaritime border with Singapore.Only part of this boundary has been delimited through acontinental shelfboundary treaty in 1969 and aterritorial seaboundary treaty in 1970. The continental shelf boundary between Indonesia and Malaysia in the South China Sea is also drawn along the equidistant line between the baselines of the two countries under the 1969 continental shelf boundary.
The border in the Celebes Sea is disputed between the two countries. Part of the dispute was settled by the judgement of the International Court of Justice in theLigitanand Sipadan Case in 2002 and is now awaitingdelimitationbetween the two countries. However, the two countries still have overlapping claims over thecontinental shelf,which Indonesia refers to asAmbalat.
There are numerous sea transport crossings between Indonesia and Malaysia, mostly between Indonesia'sSumatraisland andPeninsular Malaysiabut also between the Indonesian province ofNorth Kalimantanand Malaysia'sSabahstate. There are only three official land transport crossing points, all between West Kalimantan and Sarawak. Both the land and maritime borders are relatively porous; many undocumented workers have crossed from Indonesia to Malaysia.
Land border
[edit]
The territorial division of Borneo gained scant Dutch attention until the arrival of British soldierJames Brookein Sarawak in 1841, which theDutch East IndiesGovernment in Batavia (Jakarta) sensed as a threat to their hegemonic position over Bornean coastal trade. This drove the DutchGovernor General,J.J. Rochussen,to issue a decree in February 1846 outlining Dutch terrestrial interests (as opposed to mere coastal control) over Borneo. This document provided a fait-accompli division of Borneo based on the flow of watersheds. This decree was essentially the blueprint that the Dutch subsequently negotiated with the British that resulted in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1891.[2]
The principal document determining the land border between Indonesia and Malaysia on the island ofBorneois the Border Convention or London Convention of 1891[3]which was signed in London between theUnited Kingdomandthe Netherlands,the two relevant colonial powers of that time, on 20 June 1891. Subsequent agreements between the colonial powers in 1915[4]and 1928[5]fine-tuned the border further. Much of the fine-tuning of the border concerned the Jagoi - Stass region in western Borneo, which, after negotiations stalled in 1930, was not yet considered definitive.[6]The treaty and various agreements were subsequently adopted by Indonesia and Malaysia as successor states. The unresolved status of the maritime boundary in the Celebes Sea, which has been the source of recent Malaysia-Indonesia boundary disputes over Ligitan,SipadanandAmbalat,is partly due to the fact that most maritime boundaries were never demarcated by the colonial powers, which focused primarily on land borders.
The convention states that the eastern end of the border would start at the 4° 10' North latitude,[7]proceeding westward across the island ofSebatikoff the coast ofSabahnearTawautown, bisecting it.[8]The border then crosses the water channel between Sebatik and the mainland and travels up along the median line of the Tambu and Sikapal channels until the hills which form the watershed between the Simengaris (in Indonesia) and Serudung (in Malaysia) rivers.[9]The border travels generally northwestward towards the 4° 20'N, and then generally westwards but accommodating the watershed, although the Pensiangan, Agisan and Sibuda rivers are allowed to intersect the border. The border then follows the line of ridges along the watershed between major rivers following northwards into the South China Sea, and those flowing eastwards, southwards and westwards into the Celebes Sea, Java Sea and Karimata Straits until Tanjung Datu at 109° 38'.8 E 02° 05'.0 N in the western extremity ofSarawak.The watershed is however not followed in a short stretch southwest ofKuchingbetween Gunung Api at 110° 04'E and Gunung Raja at 109° 56'E where the border follows streams, paths, crests and straight lines which are marked by boundary markers and pillars.[10]
On 26 November 1973, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Indonesia and Malaysia for the joint survey and demarcation of their common land border. Work began on 9 September 1975 and was completed in February 2000. As of 2006, a total of 19 memoranda of understanding with 28 maps had been signed between the two countries pertaining to the survey and demarcation of the border covering a distance of 1,822.3 km of the 2,019.5 km border.[11]
Maritime boundaries
[edit]
Themaritime boundariesbetween Indonesia and Malaysia are located four bodies of water, namely theStrait of Malacca,Strait of Singapore,South China Sea and Celebes Sea. Theterritorial seasof both countries (both claim a 12-nautical-mile (22 km) territorial sea) only meet in the Straits of Malacca and Straits of Singapore. Territorial sea boundaries also exist at the continuation of both ends of the land boundary between the two countries in Borneo. Onlycontinental shelfboundaries have been agreed to in the South China Sea while the continental shelf boundary in the Celebes Sea has not been determined at all.
Straits of Malacca and Straits of Singapore
[edit]Continental shelf and territorial sea agreements
Thecontinental shelfandterritorial seaboundaries generally runs along the median line between the baselines of the two countries. Indonesia and Malaysia both agreed to a continental shelf boundary in 1969 (signed on 27 October 1969)[12]and a territorial sea boundary in 1970 (signed on 17 March 1970).[13]The two countries together withThailandentered to an agreement on 21 December 1971 established a common maritime tripoint as well as extended the continental shelf boundary between Indonesia and Malaysia from the northern terminus defined in the 1969 agreement to meet the tripoint in a straight line (see table below).[14]
Both the continental shelf boundary and territorial sea boundary generally follow the equidistant line between thebaselinesof the two countries. The continental shelf and territorial sea boundaries are generally one and the same line with the same turning points except for one turning point of the territorial sea boundary known as "Turning Point 6" which does not apply to Malaysia, with the Malaysian territorial sea boundary running directly from Turning Point 5 to Turning Point 7, which coincides with the continental shelf boundary as defined by the 1969 apgreement. This phenomenon creates a small triangle of sea in the southern part of the Straits of Malacca which forms part of the Indonesian continental shelf but not part of the country's territorial sea.
Malaysia's 1979 map
The continental shelf and territorial sea boundaries beyond the southern terminus of the 1969 and 1970 agreements have not been agreed to. The 1979 territorial sea and continental shelf map published by Malaysia[15]shows a unilaterally drawn continental shelf/territorial sea boundary connecting the southern terminus of the 1969 continental shelf and 1970 territorial sea agreement between Indonesia and Malaysia with theMalaysia-Singapore borderat the western entrance of theStraits of Johor.The boundary's southernmost turning point, namely Point 17, is inside Indonesia's baseline in the Riau Islands, giving the impression that Malaysia is claiming a slice of Indonesia's internal waters as part of its territorial sea. The boundaries on the 1979 map are not recognised by Indonesia nor Singapore.
The map also does not show the western Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore tripoint, which should be located in this area. Indonesia andSingaporesigned an agreement in 2009, extending their defined commonboundaryto a point where the two countries claim was as far westwards as they could go bilaterally. Tri-lateral negotiations would be necessary to define the tri-point and close the undefined boundary gaps.
| Point | Longitude | Latitude | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand common point | ||||
| CP | 98° 01.5' | 5° 57.0' | The 1971 agreement establishing the common point also extends the boundary from Point 1 of the continental shelf boundary to the Common Point. | |
| Continental shelf border end and turning point coordinates | ||||
| 1 | 98° 17.5' | 5° 27.0' | ||
| 2 | 98° 41.5' | 4° 55.7' | ||
| 3 | 99° 43.6' | 3° 59.6' | ||
| 4 | 99° 55.0' | 3° 47.4' | ||
| 5 | 101° 12.1' | 2° 41.5' | ||
| 6 | 101° 46.5' | 2° 15.4' | ||
| 7 | 102° 13.4' | 1° 55.2' | ||
| 8 | 102° 35.0' | 1° 41.2' | ||
| 9 | 103° 3.9' | 1° 19.5' | ||
| 10 | 103° 22.8' | 1° 15.0' | ||
| Territorial sea border end and turning point coordinates | ||||
| 1 | 101° 00.2' | 2° 51.6' | This point is located along the continental shelf boundary between Point 4 and 5. | |
| 2 | 101° 12.1' | 2° 41.5' | Same as Point 5 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| 3 | 101° 46.5 | 2° 15.4' | Same as Point 6 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| 4 | 102° 13.4' | 1° 55.2' | Same as Point 7 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| 5 | 102° 35.0' | 1° 41.2' | Same as Point 8 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| 6 | 103° 2.1' | 1° 19.1' | This point does not apply to Malaysia | |
| 7 | 103° 3.9' | 1° 19.5' | Same as Point 9 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| 8 | 103° 22.8' | 1° 15.0' | Same as Point 10 of the continental shelf boundary | |
| Turning points along the continuation of Malaysia's maritime border according to the 1979 map | ||||
| 15 | 103° 22'.8 | 1° 15'.0 | Same as Point 10 of the continental shelf boundary and Point 8 of the territorial sea boundary | |
| 16 | 103° 26'.8 | 1° 13'.45 | ||
| 17 | 103° 32'.5 | 1° 1'.45 | ||
| 18 | 103° 34'.2 | 1° 11'.0 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 19 | 103° 34'.95 | 1° 15'.15 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 20 | 103° 37'.38 | 1° 16'.37 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 21 | 103° 24'.1 | 1° 15'.85 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
South China Sea and Straits of Singapore (Eastern portion)
[edit]Continental shelf agreement
Only the continental shelf boundary has been determined between the two countries for this segment of their maritime border. The border follows the equidistant line between the baselines of Indonesia and Malaysia and Point 20 is the equidistant point between Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam (see table below).[16]Point 20 is the western terminus of theIndonesia-Vietnam continental shelf boundarywhich the two countries agreed to in 2003 and the easternmost point of the area ofoverlapping claimsbetween Malaysia and Vietnam.
The southern terminus of the continental shelf boundary lies to the east ofPedra Brancawhich was disputed between Malaysia and Singapore and eventually awarded to Singapore by an International Court of Justice ruling.
Malaysia's 1979 map
No maritime border agreement covers the continuation of the border from the southern terminus of the continental shelf boundary to the meeting point of the territorial water of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore which should lie in the area. Malaysia and Singapore have also yet to determine their mutual border from the eastern terminus of theMalaysia-Singapore borderwhich was as determined in the 1995Malaysia-Singapore borderagreement to the tripoint.
Malaysia's 1979 continental shelf and territorial sea map unilaterally connects the southern terminus of the Indonesia-Malaysia continental shelf boundary with theMalaysia-Singapore borderat the eastern entrance of theStraits of Johor.The coordinates of the unilateral boundary in the chart below. The map placesPedra Branca,Middle Rocksand South Ledge inside Malaysia's territorial sea. Both Indonesia and Singapore do not recognise the borders drawn in the 1979 map.
The 2008 International Court of Justice decision on the sovereignty of Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge should enable the maritime borders between the three countries in this stretch of waters to be determined. Revision to the 1979 map will be needed with the awarding of Pedra Branca to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia by the ICJ. The sovereignty of South Ledge, which is submerged during high tide, will be determined later through the determination of territorial waters in which it is situated. While South Ledge lies closest to Middle Rocks and then Pedra Branca, the nearest shore to the marine feature is actually the northern shore of Indonesia's Bintan island.
Singapore has indicated that itsborder with Indonesiain this area will consist of two stretches - one between the main Singapore island and Indonesia's Batam island, and the other between Singapore'sPedra Brancaand Indonesia's Bintan Island. A stretch of the Indonesia–Malaysia border will run in between. This will effectively establish three Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore tripoints in the area. The determination of boundaries to fill the various gaps and defining the various tripoints would require Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore trilateral negotiations.[17]
| Point | Longitude (E) | Latitude (N) | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental shelf boundary end and turning point coordinates | ||||
| 11 | 104° 29'.5 | 1° 23'.9 | ||
| 12 | 104° 53' | 1° 38' | ||
| 13 | 105° 5'.2 | 1° 54'.4 | ||
| 14 | 105° 1'.2 | 2° 22'.5 | ||
| 15 | 104° 51'.5 | 2° 55'.2 | ||
| 16 | 104° 46'.5 | 3° 50'.1 | ||
| 17 | 104° 51'.9 | 4° 3' | ||
| 18 | 105° 28'.8 | 5° 4'.7 | ||
| 19 | 105° 47'.1 | 5° 40'.6 | ||
| 20 | 105° 49'.2 | 6° 5'.8 | This point is also the western terminus of theIndonesia-Vietnam continental shelf boundary;the easternmost point of the area ofMalaysia-Vietnamoverlapping claims. | |
| Turning point coordinates along the continuation of Malaysia's maritime border according to the 1979 map | ||||
| 22 | 104° 7'.5 | 1° 17'.63 | This turning point may form part of theMalaysia-Singapore border | |
| 23 | 104° 2'.5 | 1° 17'.42 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 24 | 104° 4'.6 | 1° 17'.3 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 25 | 104° 7'.1 | 1° 16'.2 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 26 | 104° 7'.42 | 1° 15'.65 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 27 | 104° 12'.67 | 1° 13'.65 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 28 | 104° 16'.15 | 1° 16'.2 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 29 | 104° 19'.8 | 1° 16'.5 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 30 | 104° 29'.45 | 1° 15'.55 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 31 | 104° 29'.33 | 1° 16'.95 | This turning point may form part of the Malaysia-Singapore border | |
| 32 | 104° 29'.5 | 1° 23'.9 | This point is the same as Point 11 (southern terminus) of the 1969 Indonesia-Malaysia continental shelf boundary | |
South China Sea (Off the western extremity of Sarawak)
[edit]Again, the only a continental shelf boundary has been agreed to in this segment of the maritime border between the two countries.[12]The boundary begins at Point 21 with coordinates 109° 38'.8E 02° 05'.0N (109° 38' 48 "E 02° 05'N) off Tanjung Datu at the western extremity of the Malaysia state ofSarawak.Incidentally, theIndonesian baselineat Tanjung Datu is located at 109° 38' 43 "E 02° 05' 10" N.
From this point, the border proceeds in a general northerly direction to Point 25 at 109° 38'.6E 06° 18'.2N which is at the 100 fathom point or the edge of the continental shelf.
Point 25 is also the eastern terminus of theIndonesia-Vietnam continental shelf boundarywhich was agreed to by the two countries in 2003, making it the common tripoint of Indonesia, Malaysia andVietnam.This is also the western terminus of the Malaysian continental shelf boundary in South China Sea as asserted in the country's 1979 territorial sea and continental shelf boundary map. The boundary is however not recognised by any other country.
| Point | Longitude (E) | Latitude (N) | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental shelf boundary end and turning point coordinates | ||||
| 21 | 109° 38'.8' | 2° 5' | ||
| 22 | 109° 54'.5 | 3° 0' | ||
| 23 | 110° 2'.0 | 4° 40'.0 | ||
| 24 | 109° 59'.0 | 5° 31'.2 | ||
| 25 | 109° 38'.6 | 6° 18'.2 | This is also the eastern terminus of theIndonesia-Vietnam continental shelf boundaryagreed to in 2003; western terminus of Malaysia's continental shelf boundary (South China Sea segment off the coast of Borneo) as in its 1979 map | |
Celebes Sea
[edit]There is no agreement over the maritime boundary in this segment. The 1979 continental shelf and territorial sea map by Malaysia depicts Malaysia's territorial sea and continental shelf border running southeast from the easternmost point of the land boundary between the two countries at 4° 10' North. Indonesia does not recognise the borders of the map and claims part of the continental shelf, calling itAmbalat(seebelow).
The map also puts the islands ofSipadanand Ligitan within Malaysian territorial waters. Indonesia initially rejected the assertion that the islands belonged to Malaysia and both countries brought the dispute to theInternational Court of Justice.In 2002, the court decided that the sovereignty of the two islands belonged to Malaysia. The court however did not determine the maritime boundary in the surrounding waters and specifically decided that the 4° 10' North parallel which marked the easternmost portion of the Indonesia-Malaysia land border inSebatikisland did not extend to sea to form either the territorial sea or continental shelf border.[18]
| Point | Longitude (E) | Latitude (N) | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia's continental shelf claim according to the 1979 map | ||||
| 76 | 120° 00' | 4° 23' | This point is deemed to be the tri-point of Indonesia, Malaysia and thePhilippines | |
| 77 | 120° 15'.75 | 3° 02'.75 | ||
| 78 | 119° 53' | 3° 01'.5 | ||
| 79 | 118° 57'.5 | 3° 06' | ||
| 80 | 118° 46'.17 | 3° 08'.67 | ||
| 81 | 118° 22' | 3° 39' | ||
| 82 | 118° 01'.1 | 4° 03'.65 | ||
| 83 | 117° 56'.95 | 4° 08' | ||
| 84 | 117° 53'.97 | 4° 10' | This point is on the eastern terminus of the land boundary | |
History
[edit]The birth of the Indonesia–Malaysia border, or at least the portion for what is todayPeninsula Malaysia,can be attributed to the1824 treaty between Great Britain and the Netherlandswhich was signed in London on 17 March 1824. The treaty determined the spheres of influence in the Malay archipelago between the two colonial powers - Great Britain and the Netherlands. Great Britain was allowed to establish colonies to the north of the Straits of Malacca and Straits of Singapore while the Dutch were allowed to colonise areas to the south of the bodies of water. This line of separation between the spheres of influence became the basis of the border between British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies and ultimately, their successor states Malaysia and Indonesia.
On Borneo, the expansion of British and Dutch interests and influence over local sultanates and kingdoms occurred gradually throughout the 19th century. The northern shore of Borneo saw the British adventurerJames Brookebecome the Rajah ofSarawakin 1842 and gradually expanded his kingdom to its present shape and size in 1905. The Sultan of Brunei's territories in today'sSabahwere initially ceded to Austrian interests, which ultimately fell into the hands of the British, which later formed theBritish North Borneo Company.TheSultan of Sulualso ceded its territories on the east coast of today's Sabah to the British in 1878. In the southern part of Borneo, the Dutch were negotiating treaties with various sultanates, allowing it to be the dominant colonial power in that portion of the island. In 1889, as the acquired territories of the two powers started to get closer, a commission was created to recommend a boundary. The recommendations were legalised in the Boundary Convention of 1891 which was signed in London on 20 June 1891. The boundary was updated in the Boundary Agreement of 1915 which was signed in London on 28 September 1915, and again in another Boundary Convention which was signed in The Hague, the Netherlands, on 26 March 1928.[10][19]
Disputes
[edit]Land boundary disputes
[edit]Despite the 1915 boundary agreement, there are at least nine areas where the two countries have outstanding disputes over the location of the land boundary.[20]The comprise five locations along the boundary between Indonesia'sNorth Kalimantanprovince and Malaysia'sSabahstate, and four locations between Indonesia'sWest Kalimantanprovince and Malaysia'sSarawakstate.
The locations along the Sabah-North Kalimantan boundary that are being disputed are at Sungai Sinapat, Sungai Sesai, Sungai Simantipal, B2700-B3100 (near Sungai Sinapat and Sungai Sesai) and C200-C700 on Pulau Sebatik.
On the Sarawak-West Kalimantan boundary, the four locations with outstanding boundary problems are named as Batu Aum, Sungai Buan, Gunung Raya and D400.
Certain parties regard Tanjung Datu as a fifth location of dispute. At the location, 1,400 hectare area known as Camar Bulan was recognised to be Malaysian territory after a survey done in 1976 to determine the location of the watershed, resulting in a memorandum of understanding in 1978. This decision however, had not gone down well with certain quarters in Indonesia.[21][22]Nevertheless, there is a dispute of maritime territory off the coast of Tanjung Datu (see below).
Maritime boundary disputes
[edit]The main maritime disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia have occurred in the Celebes Sea. Both countries previously claimed sovereignty over theLigitanandSipadanislands. The dispute over theAmbalatblock of the Celebes Sea seabed, believed to be rich in mineral resources, continues. There is also a section of the maritime boundary off Tanjung Datu at the western end of the land boundary which is being disputed between the two countries.
Ligitan and Sipadan
[edit]LigitanandSipadanare two small islands just off the east coast of Borneo which were claimed by Indonesia and Malaysia. The dispute originated in 1969 when the two countries negotiated to delimit the common border of their continental shelf. As the two countries could not agree on the soveignty of the two islands, the continental shelf border was left off the 1969 agreement between the two countries.
Indonesia claimed that the islands were theirs by virtue of the fact that they were located south of 4° 10 "North which it said formed the maritime border between it and Malaysia by virtue of a straight line extension of the land border which ended on the east coastSebatikisland. Malaysia however, claimed a stretch of territorial waters and the continental shelf south of the latitude which included the two islands. The claim was confirmed through its map which it published in 1979. Indonesia protested the delimitation on the map.
The dispute was brought before the International Court of Justice and on 17 December 2002, decided that sovereignty of Sipadan and Ligitan belonged to Malaysia on the basis ofeffectivités.[18]It however did not decide on the question of territorial waters and maritime borders. This allowed the dispute over territorial waters and continental shelf to remain unresolved. The dispute over theAmbalatblock (see below) can be seen to be part of this dispute over territorial waters and continental shelf.
Ambalat
[edit]Ambalatis an area of the seabed orcontinental shelfin theCelebes Seaoff the east coast of Borneo which is claimed by Indonesia and Malaysia. The seabed is believed to be rich in crude oil. Contrary to popular belief, the International Court of Justice decision over the sovereignty of Sipadan and Ligitan did not solve the dispute over Ambalat as it did not include issues concerning the demarcation of the territorial sea and continental shelf boundaries of the two countries in the area.[23]
The dispute started with Malaysia issuing a map in 1979 of its territorial sea and continental shelf which included the Ambalat block. The map drew Malaysia's maritime boundary in a southeast direction into the Celebes Sea after it leaves the eastmost point on land onSebatikisland. This would include the Ambalat block, or a large part of it, within the Malaysian continental shelf. Indonesia has, like the other neighbours of Malaysia, objected to the map. Indonesia has never officially announced the exact locations of its maritime boundaries but claimed during its arguments in the Sipadan Case that it continued in a straight line along the 4° 10' North latitude after it leaves Sebatik.
Both countries have also awarded exploration contracts to oil companies for the area. Indonesia has awarded concessions to ENI of Italy for what it called the Ambalat Block in 1999 and US companyUnocalfor East Ambalat in 2004. Petronas, the Malaysian petroleum company, meanwhile awarded a concession over what Malaysia called Block ND 6 and ND 7 in February 2005.[24]A large part of Ambalat overlaps with Block ND 6 while a huge portion of East Ambalat overlaps with Block ND 7.
The dispute has created considerable tension between the two countries, with several facing-off incidents between the navy ships of both countries. The latest round of tension occurred at the end of May 2009 when Indonesian media reports stated that Indonesian navy ships were close to firing shots at a Malaysian navy vessel which it claimed had encroached deep into Indonesian territorial waters.[25]
Negotiations are currently on-going to resolve the dispute, although media reports say no talks have been held since April 2008.
Incidents
[edit]Tanjung Berakit maritime officers arrest
[edit]On 13 August 2010, three Indonesian maritime officers were arrested and detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in what Indonesia claimed were Indonesian territorial waters off Tanjung Berakit in the Indonesian island ofBintanwhile Malaysia claimed that based on GPS reading, they were waters of Kota Tinggi inJohor.[26]The three were part of a team of five officers whose vessel (with non-functioning GPS) confronted five Malaysian fishing boats fishing in the area.[27]The three boarded one of the Malaysian fishing boats and were then arrested by the Malaysian authorities. Their two colleagues boarded another fishing vessel and arrested seven fishermen and detained them. It was reported that the Malaysian authorities fired some warning shots during the incident. All detainees were released by 17 August 2010 but the incident unleashed a wave of anti-Malaysia sentiments in Indonesia.[28][29]
Both Indonesia and Malaysia agreed that the maritime border between the two countries in the area has not been determined. Indonesia claimed that it was ready to begin negotiations to determine the border but said that the Malaysians, which relies on its 1979 territorial waters and continental shelf limit map as the basis for its claim in the area, were not ready as they wanted to settle its maritime border with Singapore adjacent to the area first following the International Court of Justice's award of the sovereignty ofPedra Brancato Singapore.[30]
Indonesian authorities intrusion on Sabah
[edit]On 13 March 2015, around 17 Indonesians, comprising 10 policemen, four soldiers and three civilians was caught in Malaysia with 12 firearms (eight pistols and four.38 Smith & Wesson revolvers with bullets) was seized from them after they were intruding past and attacked a Malaysian police station onSebatik Island,Sabah to get a suspected killer whom they alleged have hiding in the police station on the Malaysian side of Sebatik Island. Initial investigation found all of the Indonesians were found to be acting on their own without instructions from their authorities. The group had crossed the Malaysian border using motorcycles and speedboats. Of which seven of them arrived in a speedboat while the rest were on motorcycles. The suspect who was apparently wanted by Indonesian police was then arrested by the Malaysian police.[31]
Border crossings
[edit]
Land crossings
[edit]There are four official land border crossings, all of them located betweenSarawakandWest Kalimantan:
- BetweenTebedu,SarawakandEntikong,West Kalimantan.The crossing is along the main route betweenKuching,the capital of Sarawak, andPontianak,the capital of West Kalimantan.
- BetweenBiawak,SarawakandAruk,West Kalimantan.[32][33]
- BetweenLubok Antu,SarawakandNanga Badau,West Kalimantan[34][35]
- BetweenSerikin,SarawakandJagoi Babang,West Kalimantan
There are numerous other informal crossings between Indonesia and Malaysia along the length of the land border, such as:
- BetweenBakelalan,SarawakandLong Bawan,North Kalimantan
These crossing are mostly used by the local population and a certain amount of cross-border trading and smuggling goes on at these and other illegal crossings. Illegal immigrants are also known to use such crossings.
Sea crossings
[edit]There are numerous scheduled sea crossings between Indonesia and Malaysia, mostly between ports in the former's island ofSumatraandPeninsula Malaysia.Here is a list of ports (Indonesian port followed by the Malaysian port) where scheduled boat services operate as of April 2008:
Sumatra-Peninsula Malaysia
- Batam-Stulang
- Batam-Pasir Gudang
- Batam-Iskandar Puteri
- Belawan-Penang(closed)
- Aceh-Penang
- Belawan-Lumut(closed)
- Bengkalis-Malacca
- Bengkalis-Muar
- Dumai-Malacca
- Dumai-Muar
- Dumai-Port Klang
- Dumai-Port Dickson
- Selat Panjang-Batu Pahat
- Tanjungbalai-Port Klang
- Tanjung Balai Karimun-Kukup
- Karimun-Iskandar Puteri
- Tanjung Pinang-Stulang
North Kalimantan-Sabah
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Malaysia".CIA World Factbook.Retrieved22 September2020.
- ^Resolution of the Governor-General of Netherlands India regarding the Dutch Possessions in Borneo, dated Buitenzorg-Batavia, 28 February 1846
- ^Convention between Great Britain and the Netherlands Defining the Boundaries in Borneo, 20 June 1891.
- ^Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands relating to the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Netherland Possessions in Borneo, 28 September 1915.
- ^Convention between His Majesty in respect of the United Kingdom and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands respecting the Delimitation of the Frontier between the States in Bomeo under British Protection and Netherlands Territory in that Island, 26 March 1928.
- ^Departement van Kolonien. Openbaar Verbaal No. 85, 1 April 1922, Algemeen Rijksarchief (ARA); Openbaar Verbaal No. 86, 22 May 1922; Openbaar Verbaal No. 13, 29 June 1922, ARA; Openbaar Verbaal No. 7, 8 August 1924, ARA; Openbaar Verbaal No. 8, 7 September 1926, ARA; Openbaar Verbaal No. 11, 16 August 1930, ARA.
- ^Convention of 1891, Article I.
- ^Convention of 1891, Article IV: From 4° 10' North latitude on the east Coast the boundary-line shall be continued eastward along that parallel, across the Island of Sebittik: that portion of the island situated to the north of that parallel shall belong unreservedly to the British North Borneo Company, and the portion south of that parallel to the Netherlands.
- ^Agreement of 1915, (2) Starting from the boundary pillar on the West coast of the island of Sibetik, the boundary follows the parallel of 4° 10' North latitude westward until it reaches the middle of the channel, thence keeping a mid-channel course until it reaches the middle of the mouth of Troesan Tamboe. (3) From the mouth of Troesan Tamboe the boundary line is continued up the middle of this Troesan until it is intersected by a similar line running through the middle of Troesan Sikapal; it then follows this line through Troesan Sikapal as far as the point where the latter meets the watershed between the Simengaris and Seroedong Rivers (Sikapal hill), and is connected finally with this watershed by a line taken perpendicular to the centre line of Troesan Sikapal.
- ^ab"Indonesia – Malaysia Boundary"(PDF),International Boundary Study,45,15 March 1965, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2009
- ^Ahmad Fauzi, Nordin (2006)."Land and River Boundary Demarcation and Maintenance - Malaysia's Experience"(PDF).Working paper at International Symposium on Land and River Demarcation and Maintenance in Support of Borderland Development.Retrieved11 April2008.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ab"Continenetal Shelf Boundary: Indonesia-Malaysia"(PDF),International Boundary Study Series a Limit in the Seas,1,21 January 1970, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2009(mapArchived16 September 2006 at theWayback Machine)
- ^"Indonesia-Malaysia Territorial Sea Boundary"(PDF),International Boundary Study Series a Limit in the Seas,50,archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2009(mapArchived12 June 2009 at theWayback Machine)
- ^"Maritime boundaries: Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand"(PDF),International Boundary Study Series a Limit in the Seas,81,27 December 1978, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2009(mapArchived25 July 2009 at theWayback Machine)
- ^SeemapArchived10 July 2007 at theWayback Machinereproduced by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country's response in the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seacase concerning the reclamation of lands by Singapore in the Straits of JohorArchived10 December 2008 at theWayback Machine.
- ^"Continenetal Shelf Boundary: Indonesia-Malaysia"(PDF),International Boundary Study Series a Limit in the Seas,1:5, 21 January 1970, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 27 February 2009
- ^Transcript of Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo and Indonesia Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, DEPLU, Gedung Pancasila, 10 March 2009,10 March 2009, archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2009,retrieved13 March2009
- ^abCase concerning the Sovereignty over Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan (Indonesia/Malaysia),Judgment of 17 December 2002,p47 (International Court of Justice 1998), archived fromthe original.
- ^International and Interstate Boundaries,2006,retrieved2 April2008[dead link].
- ^"Sembilan titik kawasan di Sarawak, Sabah belum selesai rundingan persempadanan".Astro Awani.23 March 2015.Retrieved23 May2015.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^I Made Andi Arsana (20 October 2011)."Understanding border issues in Camar Bulan, Tanjung Datu".The Jakarta Post.Retrieved23 May2015.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^"Camar Bulan Milik Malaysia Sejak 1978".kompas.10 October 2011.Retrieved23 May2015.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^Energy Security and Southeast Asia: The Impact on Maritime Boundary and Territorial DisputesArchived13 May 2008 at theWayback Machine.Harvard Asia Quarterly. Fall 2005.
- ^"Shell & Petronas Carigali Awarded Two Ultra-Deepwater Blocks".Rigzone.16 February 2005.Retrieved4 June2009.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^"Navy Was Set To Fire on Warship".Jakarta Globe.29 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2009.Retrieved4 June2009.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^(in Malay)Polis marin tidak pernah guna kekerasan di perairan.Archived5 September 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^(in Indonesian)Dirjen Kementerian Kelautan Bantah Anak Buahnya Peras Nelayan Malaysia.Archived25 March 2012 at theWayback Machine
- ^Nurfika Osman (16 August 2010)."Arrests at Sea Raise Tensions With Malaysia".Jakarta Globe.Archived fromthe originalon 18 August 2010.Retrieved5 September2010.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^Ahmad Fuad Yahya (4 September 2010)."Students Demonstrate Opposite Malaysian Embassy".Bernama.Retrieved5 September2010.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^Mustaqim Adamrah and Adianto P. Simamora (18 August 2010)."Claim territory or risk losing it: Expert".Jakarta Post.Retrieved5 September2010.
{{cite web}}:External link in|publisher= - ^"14 RI military, police arrested in Malaysia".The Jakarta Post.15 March 2015.Retrieved15 March2015.
- ^Natalia, Desca Lidya (17 March 2017)."Presiden Jokowi Resmikan Pos Lintas Batas Negara Aruk".Kompas(in Indonesian).Retrieved8 July2017.
- ^Ade, Putra (16 March 2017)."Pintu Lintas Batas di Kalbar Tuai Pu gian dari Masyarakat Malaysia".Okezone(in Indonesian).Retrieved8 July2017.
- ^"Presiden resmikan PLBN Indonesia - Malaysia di Badau, Kalimantan Barat"(in Indonesian). Antara. 16 March 2017.Retrieved8 July2017.
- ^Aditiasari, Dana (17 March 2017)."Begini Megahnya Pos Perbatasan Nanga Badau yang Diresmikan Jokowi".detikfinance(in Indonesian).Retrieved8 July2017.