Malaysia and Brunei advance border dispute resolution and haze cooperation

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah met during the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC-27) in Bandar Seri Begawan to strengthen bilateral ties and address regional issues.

A major outcome of the talks was the progress on the long-standing land border dispute between Malaysia and Brunei. Both leaders expressed commitment to resolving the overlapping claims, with a target to complete surveys and demarcations by 2034. The resolution will rely on existing agreements and the watershed principle, particularly in sectors involving Sarawak.

Regarding environmental concerns, both nations agreed to utilize the ASEAN mechanism to address transboundary haze, which has recently caused unhealthy air quality in parts of Sarawak.

During the visit, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah conferred the Most Honourable Laila Utama Order of Merit (D.K.) upon Anwar Ibrahim. The high-level engagement also included the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering various areas of mutual interest to provide a framework for continued cooperation.