In this case, Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said he supported the efforts by the Malaysian government to assert its territorial integrity.

“Sabah is unequivocally a part of Malaysia. This is a decision which Sabahans themselves embraced in 1963. Malaysians are united in defending every inch of our territory,” he said in a statement here today.

In the light of the current crisis brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, Anwar said now was not the time for any political grandstanding or unprovoked sabre-rattling.

“It is the time for an unwavering focus on fighting Covid-19, supporting the millions of poor and marginalised families impacted by the economic crisis and charting a course for a new future that can be more peaceful and prosperous for the people of Malaysia and the Philippines,” he said.