Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized the importance of using the term "Sulawesi Sea" to describe the maritime area in dispute with Indonesia, which Malaysia claims as part of its sovereignty. The International Court of Justice's 2002 ruling on the Sipadan and Ligitan Islands has strengthened Malaysia's claim over the area, located near North Kalimantan and Sabah. Despite this, Hasan stressed commitment to bilateral cooperation with Indonesia to address the dispute, citing a shared goal of finding a mutually beneficial resolution. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo have previously expressed support for joint economic cooperation in the disputed zone, aiming to establish a joint development scheme while awaiting legal resolution.