JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ON
THE SIGNING OF 'THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA ON PHASE ONE OF THE JOINT DEMARCATION AND SURVEY OF THE LAND BOUNDARY BETWEEN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
AND MALAYSIA FOR SECTOR D-E, SPECIFIC SECTIONS IN SECTOR C-D, SECTOR E-F, SECTOR K-L AND PART OF SECTOR J - K IN THE VICINITY OF
JAMBATAN PERSAHABATAN AND BLOCK B IN THE VICINITY OF BRUNEI BAY'
1. On 26 August 2024, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia signed the 'Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Malaysia on Phase One of the Joint Demarcation and Survey of the Land Boundary between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia for Sector D - E, specific sections in Sector C - D, Sector E - F, Sector K - L and part of Sector J - K in the vicinity of Jambatan Persahabatan and Block B in the vicinity of Brunei Bay'. The signing of the MOU was witnessed by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the sidelines of the 25th Annual Leaders' Consultations in Brunei Darussalam.
2. The MOU was signed by the Chairmen of the Joint Brunei Darussalam - Malaysia Land Boundary Committee (LBC), The Honourable Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof, the Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam and His Excellency Dato' Sri Amran bin Mohamed Zin, the Secretary General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, which encompasses the progress achieved so far by Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia in the joint demarcation and survey of the land boundary between both countries, which covers 175.966 kilometres or 33.3 percent of the total distance of the entire land boundary at approximately 528.45 kilometres.
3. The areas covered in the MOU are Sector D - E (Mulu - Ulu Tutong), as well as specific sections in Sector C - D (Teraja - Mulu), Sector E - F (Ulu Tutong - Bebuloh), Sector K - L (Ulu Sungai Pandaruan - Bukit Sagan) and part of Sector J - K which is in the vicinity of Jambatan Persahabatan, as well as, Block B, which is in the vicinity of Brunei Bay.
4. The joint demarcation and survey activities were carried out as a follow-up to the 'Exchange of Letters' which was signed between His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 16 March 2009 as well as the 'Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Malaysia on the Process for the Joint Demarcation and Survey of the Land Boundary between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia' and its annexed Terms of Reference (2012 MOU and TOR) which was signed on 19 March 2012.
5. The signing of the MOU was preceded by the 'Exchange of Notes' at the Ministerial-level by The Honourable Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof, the Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam and The Honourable Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. This document constitutes an agreement between both countries to make joint progress on the ground in Sector F-G as soon as possible. This was a significant achievement, which would contribute to the welfare and security of the people in said area.
6. Moving forward, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to undertake the joint demarcation and survey of the land boundary between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia in accordance with 2012 MOU and TOR.
7. Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will continue to undertake discussions under the respective bilateral mechanisms to complete all demarcation and survey works pertaining to the land boundary between both countries by 2034.
