August 8, 2025 | 11:38 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amelia Anggraini, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, emphasized that any joint management of the Ambalat Block between Indonesia and Malaysia must not compromise Indonesia’s sovereignty.
The NasDem Party legislator stressed that the Ambalat Block is a strategic and sensitive area in terms of national sovereignty.
According to Amelia, international cooperation must not lead to any form of reduction, weakening, or ambiguity regarding Indonesia’s legal status.
“Any discussions or agreements must first be thoroughly reviewed by Commission I of the House,” she said on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in a written statement published on the NasDem Party’s website.
Amelia added that she would leave the details of the cooperation to the government, provided that the principles of sovereignty and mutual benefit are upheld.
She also underlined the importance of House oversight in such cooperation and said that Commission I would request an official explanation from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the next working meeting.
She also expressed concern over Malaysia’s use of the term “Sulawesi Sea” to refer to the Ambalat region. Amelia warned that such terminology could carry political implications, especially if it is intended to blur Indonesia’s territorial claims.
“We urge the Indonesian government to take a firm stance and consistently use official terminology in every bilateral or multilateral forum,” she said.
Malaysia refers to the maritime zone covering Blocks ND6 and ND7, both of which appear in Malaysia’s 1979 New Map, as the Sulawesi Sea, a name that differs from Indonesia’s designation of the area as Ambalat.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the sovereignty of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands bolsters Malaysia’s maritime position in the Sulawesi Sea. He said that terminology must accurately reflect Malaysia’s sovereignty and legal rights in the area.
Hasan reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national interests. He said this approach aligns with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
All matters related to the issue, he added, will be handled through diplomatic, legal, and technical mechanisms within the framework of bilateral agreements.
President Prabowo Subianto expressed hope for a peaceful resolution through mutual goodwill between Indonesia and Malaysia. He emphasized that the Indonesian government is seeking a constructive resolution regarding Malaysia’s use of the term “Sulawesi Sea” for the Ambalat area.
“We are looking for a good and peaceful solution, with good intentions from both sides. Essentially, we want a positive outcome,” Prabowo said after attending the 2025 Indonesian Convention on Science, Technology, and Industry at the Ganesa Cultural Building, ITB, Bandung, West Java, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
Editor’s Choice: How the Ambalat Block Dispute Shadows Malaysia-Indonesia Relations
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