KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 15): Malaysia will continue to explore for oil and gas within its waters in the disputed South China Sea despite protests from China, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated on Tuesday.

Anwar told the lower house of Parliament that exploration activities by national oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, will continue, including at the massive Kasawari gas field offshore Sarawak. 

He stressed that the government will not waver on its stance regarding areas belonging to the country.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a controversy that has lasted more than a decade marked by Beijing’s rising assertiveness. China has built military bases on the disputed islets in the sea, and its coast guard have also clashed with the Phillipine navy.

Last month, Anwar insisted that that the exploration is within Malaysia’s own waters, following publication of a diplomatic note from Beijing demanding a halt to activities off Sarawak and accusing Malaysia of encroachment.

Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei — members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) — as well as Taiwan also claim part of the South China Sea.

On Tuesday, Anwar affirmed that Malaysia will continue to reject and object to the use of its waters for defence routes without its permission, but that the country remains open to discuss with China over the dispute based on Asean’s "centrality concept".

Anwar also stated that the dispute would not affect bilateral diplomatic relations, and urged critics not to single out China, noting that the country had border issues with almost all of its neighbouring countries.

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