COVID-19: SAFEGUARDING MALAYSIAN WATERS AND ITS FRONTIERS FROM ENCROACHMENTS OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

Abstract

Malaysia is a coastal country that borders the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, along with Indonesia and Singapore. Before Western colonization, there was no fixed maritime boundary across the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The 1824 English-Dutch Treaty divided the Straits of Malacca and Singapore into two spheres of influence, which later became territories of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. To the east, through the 1878 and 1903 treaties, Sabah, which originally belonged to the Sultanate of Sulu, became a British colony and eventually gained independence within Malaysia in 1963. As a sovereign country, Malaysia has signed several agreements with its neighbouring countries to establish its territorial and maritime borders. However, there are some segments of Malaysia's maritime areas whose maritime boundaries have not been clearly defined. This deficiency can make it difficult to establish jurisdiction in Malaysia's maritime areas. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly important to establish these maritime boundaries to curb the illegal entry of foreigners into Malaysia and to enforce more stringent measures. This article concludes that Malaysia must continue to work closely with its neighbours to resolve maritime border issues conclusively. The study highlights the importance of promoting peaceful resolution of maritime border disputes, enhancing international security, and advancing knowledge on maritime border issues, which can benefit the international community.