KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has called for clear and comprehensive disclosure of the legal and technical basis underpinning recent developments along the Malaysia–Indonesia border near Sabah, amid conflicting public accounts emerging from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Its president, Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin, said such disclosure is necessary to reconcile differing public accounts and to maintain public confidence in constitutional processes affecting Sabah.

Nazim said recent media reports in both countries have referred to boundary-related processes, the status of several villages in Nunukan, North Kalimantan, and figures cited in relation to land area, giving rise to differing narratives on the nature and outcome of those developments.

“On the Malaysian side, the Federal Government has publicly stated that no cession or transfer of Malaysian territory has taken place. Malaysian authorities have explained that engagements with Indonesia relate to long-standing technical processes of boundary demarcation and verification, conducted in accordance with international law, and that these processes do not involve compensation, reciprocity, or any exchange of land. It has further been stated that reports suggesting the transfer of land are inaccurate.

“At the same time, reports circulating in segments of the Indonesian media, citing Indonesian officials, describe the same developments in materially different terms. These reports refer to three villages in Nunukan Regency being placed under Malaysian administration following what is described as a boundary adjustment, and have also cited a figure of approximately 5,207 hectares in connection with the outcome of these processes,” he said in a press statement on Saturday (Jan 24).

According to SLS, these accounts remain part of the public record and have contributed to public discussion on both sides of the border.

Nazim said recent media reporting, including accounts originating from Indonesian sources, has therefore presented a narrative that differs in substance from Malaysia’s official position.

Malaysian authorities, however, have publicly stated that the figure cited does not represent any land given, exchanged, or surrendered by Malaysia, and arises from media narratives surrounding technical boundary processes. The coexistence of a specific numerical figure in public reporting and an official denial of any territorial transfer underscores the need for clear, documented explanation.

Nazim said SLS overserved that Indonesian reporting speaks in terms of villages and compensation arising from a boundary adjustment, while Malaysia has characterised the process as one of technical demarcation.

“These are not merely differences of emphasis; they describe fundamentally different legal realities. They cannot both characterise the same outcome without clear and reconciling legal documentation,” he explained.

Nazim added that while figures have been cited in relation to hectares, no corresponding land-area data has been publicly disclosed for the villages referred to, reinforcing the need for clear documentation and official mapping.

Nazim said while SLS does not take a position on media narratives, he stressed that where two materially different public accounts exist on matters touching Sabah’s territorial boundaries, clarity cannot rest on assurances alone, but must be grounded in law, documentation, and official record.

Nazim emphasised that Sabah occupies a distinct constitutional position within the Federation of Malaysia, and that matters affecting its territorial boundaries are not routine administrative or technical exercises, but engage core principles of constitutional governance, federal–state relations, and public accountability.

“The issue affects not only Sabah’s interests but the interests of the country as a whole, and any matter touching on its territorial integrity must be addressed through clear explanations grounded in law and official record.

“In this regard, SLS calls for clear and comprehensive disclosure of the legal and technical basis underpinning the developments being reported, including — where applicable — the relevant agreements, instruments, joint survey records, and official maps. Such disclosure is necessary to reconcile differing public accounts and to maintain public confidence in constitutional processes affecting Sabah,” he said.

Nazim said SLS would continue to observe the developments closely, reaffirming its commitment to upholding constitutional governance and safeguarding the legal interests of Sabah and its people, firmly, calmly, and without compromise.