Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANDARSERIBEGAWAN22
2009-02-05 05:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:  

BRUNEI: TERRITORIAL DISPUTES WITH MALAYSIA REMAIN

Tags:  ECON PGOV PREL PTER BX 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 050546Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4420
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 
NSC WASHDC
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
DIA WASHDC
CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000022 


NOFORN

EAP/MTS/MGCOPPOLA, SINGAPORE FOR KSEABAUGH, INR/EAP/KKERR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL PTER BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI: TERRITORIAL DISPUTES WITH MALAYSIA REMAIN
UNRESOLVED

Classified By: John McIntyre, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons 1.4 (b and d).


Territorial Disputes with Malaysia Remain Unresolved
--------------------------------------------- --------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000022


NOFORN

EAP/MTS/MGCOPPOLA, SINGAPORE FOR KSEABAUGH, INR/EAP/KKERR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2019
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL PTER BX
SUBJECT: BRUNEI: TERRITORIAL DISPUTES WITH MALAYSIA REMAIN
UNRESOLVED

Classified By: John McIntyre, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reasons 1.4 (b and d).


Territorial Disputes with Malaysia Remain Unresolved
-------------- --------------


1. (U) Poloff and Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) on 21
January met with Pg Datin Shazainah Pd Sharifuuden, the
acting director of Policy Planning in the Brunei Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Garry Ramlee, a research
officer in Policy Planning, for an update on territorial
disputes between Brunei and Malaysia. Shazainah said Brunei's
territorial disputes with Malaysia are negotiated between the
Malaysian and Bruneian foreign ministries and not at the high
commissioner level. She said His Majesty the Sultan and the
Malaysian Prime Minister have annual consultations on the
disputes. With regard to the dispute over Limbang-a border
town between Sarawak, Malaysia and Temburong,
Brunei-Shazainah said some locals in Limbang wish for
Bruneian citizenship, and some locals have even kept their
Bruneian identity cards issued before the dispute arose. With
regard to the maritime dispute over Block J and Block
K-blocks referred to as Block L and Block M by
Malaysia-Shazainah said negotiations are ongoing and will
remain strictly bilateral. Shazainah said the Malaysian
Government and Bruneian Government currently have cordial
relations, and she expects any new Malaysian leadership to
extend the same hospitality.

Brunei Shell Petroleum Offers More Insight
--------------


2. (C//NF) Poloff and DCM on 22 January were given a tour of
the Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) compound with David Purvis,
the Technical Director of BSP's Head Office in Seria. Purvis
said oil accounts for 90 percent of the government's total
export earnings and 93 percent of that oil is supplied by
BSP. When asked about the amount of Brunei's oil reserves,
Purvis gave three estimates: Brunei has five to ten years of
what reserves are known; twenty years with reserves BSP has
explored in addition to known reserves; and thirty years with
known reserves and the ongoing reserve exploration efforts of
all oil companies in Brunei. Purvis said BSP in 2006 received
permission from the Bruneian Government to explore areas just
south of what Brunei calls Block J; BSP will begin offshore
drilling in this area beginning 1 March. Purvis said BSP has
explored alternatives sources of energy but found that Brunei
has neither consistent wind for wind energy nor sufficient
sunlight intensity for solar technologies.


3. (C//NF) Purvis said BSP can only offer advice on the
maritime dispute and not otherwise intervene because it is
handled by government officials. (Note: Shell International
has interests in both Brunei and Malaysia so they are
carefully treading this issue. End Note) Purvis said many
industry experts believe that Brunei's territory as
stipulated in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a
conservative estimate; Purvis said Brunei should actually
receive more territory. BSP had hoped that the Bruneian
Government would take the maritime dispute to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) but this did not happen.

Comment
--------------


4. (C//NF) Shazainah provided few updates on the territorial
disputes, suggesting that negotiations with the Malaysian
Government probably remain at a deadlock. The Bruneian
Government likely will continue to negotiate bilaterally to
avoid a larger international venue. However, since BSP will
begin exploring an area near Malaysian territory on 1 March,
Malaysia could force claim and raise stakes if oil is found.
Brunei's oil reserves are finite and the government has made
public claims to diversify its economy but has had little
success to date.

TODD