Malaysia dismisses Indonesia's claim over oil and gas fields

The Malaysian government has dismissed Indonesia's claim to two new oil and gas fields off Kalimantan (Borneo) island, saying in reports published on Friday that they were both within its territory, AFP reported Friday.

Foreign ministry parliamentary spokesman Zainal Abidin Osman said the disputed ND6 and ND7 blocs were both within Malaysian waters according to a Malaysian map printed in 1978.

"There is no dispute, both of the blocks fall within Malaysian territory," he said, according to the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia.

He was quoted by the Malay Mail as saying Malaysia's rights are in accordance with three conventions: the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Convention 1958, Continental Shelf Convention 1958 and the United Nations Convention on Maritime Law 1982.

Malaysia's national oil company Petronas and Indonesian giant Pertamina are both reportedly planning to award exploration contracts for the two blocs, some 150 kilometers (94 miles) off Tawau in eastern Sabah state, which hold potentially significantgas and oil reserves. (*)