Maps Pelantar Benua Malaysia 1979 and Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (NKRI): Malaysia Approach to Settle Overlapping

Abstract

This paper examines the Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (NKRI) map issued by Indonesia in 2017, which affects the Malaysia maritime zone based on Peta Pelantar Benua Malaysia 1979 (Peta Baru 1979), as well as and Malaysia approach to settle the overlapping with Indonesia. This paper has three objectives. First, to describe Peta Baru 1979 and NKRI Map 2017; second, to compare the responses of Malaysia and Indonesia towards overlapping issues; third, to analyse the Malaysian approach to settle the overlapping issues. The concept used for this paper is national security to support discourse surrounding the actions of Malaysia. The method used in this paper is a qualitative one derived from secondary data sources collected from reliable printed and online documents. The findings of this paper are that first, there is an overlapping maritime zone area between Malaysia and Indonesia based on a map issued by both countries; second, the Malaysian and Indonesian government responses to settle the overlapping issue without involving war; and third, Malaysia adopts a diplomacy approach in relation to the resolution of maritime delimitation issues. This paper concludes that Malaysia's approach and strategy in addressing the issue of overlapping maritime boundaries and at the same time maintaining relations with Indonesia as a neighbouring country.