KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday (Sep 5) that Malaysia will press on with oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea after a leaked diplomatic document showed opposition from Beijing.
However, he took a conciliatory stand, describing China as a friend and saying both countries would discuss the issue amicably.
Malaysia’s state-run oil firm Petronas operates oil and gas fields in the sea within its exclusive economic zone.
China claims almost all of the economically vital waterway despite competing claims from other countries and an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
“What we did in terms of oil exploration is certainly within our waters,” Anwar told reporters travelling with him on a visit to Russia.
His news conference was carried live on Malaysian TV.
“We will probably respond to China in explaining our position that we have never intended to be in any way provocative, unnecessarily hostile,” Anwar said.
“China is a great friend. But we will of course have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil, in our territory.”
