MINISTERS AT TABLE; HASLUCK, KHOMAN, MALIK, RAMOS, RAZAK, RAJARATNAM A TALKS; GOLF COURSE SCENES; MINISTERS LEAVE GOLD TALKS; MINISTERS BREAKFASTING.




Initials PD/VS/BHH/PF



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Background: MALAYSIA AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE REACHED A PROVISIONAL UNDERSTANDING ON THEIR DISPUTE OVER THE BORNEO STATE OF SABAH. A DECISION FOR A FURTHER "COOKING OFF" PERIOD IN THE DISPUTE WAS MADE AT A MEETING ON SATURDAY (14 DECEMBER) BETWEEN THE MALAYSIAN DEPUTY PREMIER, TUN ABDUL RAZAK, AND THE PHILIPPINES FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR. NARCISO RAMOS, AT THE SEASIDE RESORT OF BANG SAEN, NEAR BANGKOK.

THE FORMER BRITISH COLONY STATE OF SABAH WAS TAKEN OVER BY MALAYSIA AT THE TIME OF FEDERATION IN 1963, BUT THE PHILIPPINES HAVE CLAIMED SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TERRITORY.

THE DISPUTE LED TO A BREAK IN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE "COOLING OFF" PERIOD CAME AT THE END OF AN INFORMAL FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN). THIS WAS ATTENDED BY MR. RAMOS, TUN ABDUL, THE THAI FOREIGN MINISTER, MR THANA AT KHOMAN, THE AUSTRALIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER, MR. PAUL HASLUCK, THE SINGAPORE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. S. RAJARATNAM, AND THE INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. ADAM MALIK.

THE MINISTERS CONTINUED THEIR DISCUSSIONS OVER A ROUND OF GOLF, AND LATER, AT A LUNCHEON.