Malaysia to continue drilling despite Beijing's demand to halt oil exploration

ANKARA

Malaysia will continue drilling within its territory despite Beijing's demand to halt oil exploration, local media reported on Thursday.

"China is our friend, but we have to operate in our waters to secure our advantage, including drilling in our territory," The Star Daily quoted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as saying.

Ibrahim, who is in Russia’s far east city of Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, told reporters that Malaysia and China are always able to resolve their disputes through negotiations like “two friends.”

Ibrahim's remarks came after a Philippine Daily Inquirer published a document claiming that the Chinese Foreign Ministry asked Malaysia to immediately stop activities in an oil-rich area of Sarawak waters.

On Wednesday, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry expressed grave concern about the publication and said it is conducting an internal investigation into the breach of classified information.

The ministry added that it will launch a police probe into the leak of a diplomatic note from China.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid