Brunei drops claim over Limbang

Brunei drops claim over Limbang

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN:Brunei has dropped territorial claim over Sarawak's Limbang district following a dispute settlement with Malaysia, said Prime Minister Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei formalised the solution to the longstanding Malaysia-Brunei boundary issues on Monday by signing the landmark Letters of Exchange here.

The historic occasion, which took place at Istana Nurul Iman, 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 and Second Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Pehin Datuk Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng.

The outstanding border issues, which include the border demarcation in Limbang, and maritime matters such as the dispute over an oil field and the exclusive economic zone off the Borneo coast, have been intently pursued for the last six years by officials from both countries which met 39 times before the solution was accepted.

Abdullah earlier had a four-eye meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, reported Bernama.