COVID-19: MENGAWAL KAWASAN PERAIRAN DAN WILAYAH PERBATASAN NEGARA DARIPADA PENCEROBOHAN PENDATANG ASING TANPA IZIN

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 neighboring 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 neighbors 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.

Abstrak

Malaysia merupakan negara pesisir bagi Selat Melaka dan Singapura selain Indonesia dan Singapura. Sebelum zaman penjajahan Barat, sempadan maritim yang tetap tidak wujud merentasi Selat Melaka dan Singapura. Perjanjian Inggeris-Belanda 1824 telah membahagikan Selat Melaka dan Singapura kepada dua pengaruh, yang kemudiannya  menjadi wilayah-wilayah bagi negara-negara Indonesia, Malaysia dan Singapura. Di sebelah timur pula, menerusi Perjanjian 1878 dan Perjanjian 1903, Sabah yang asalnya milik Kesultanan Sulu telah menjadi jajahan British dan akhirnya merdeka dalam Malaysia pada tahun 1963. Sebagai sebuah negara berdaulat, Malaysia telah menandatangani beberapa perjanjian dengan negara-negara jirannya dalam menetapkan sempadan wilayah dan maritimnya. Namun, terdapat beberapa segmen kawasan maritim milik Malaysia yang sempadan maritimnya belum ditetapkan dengan jelas. Kekurangan ini boleh menimbulkan kesulitan dalam menetapkan bidang kuasa dalam kawasan maritim milik Malaysia. Dengan penularan wabak Covid-19, bertambah pentinglah batas maritim ini ditetapkan bagi mengekang kemasukan secara haram pendatang asing ke Malaysia selain menjalankan penguatkuasaan yang lebih tegas. Artikel ini membuat kesimpulan bahawa Malaysia harus terus bekerja lebih rapat dengan tetangga-tetangganya agar masalah perbatasan maritim dapat diselesaikan dengan tuntas.