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Malaysia's Claims to SpratlysMalaysia started its claim to the Spratlys in 1979Malaysia staked its claims to about a dozen tiny reefs and atolls in the southeastern portion of the Spratly Islands including:Commodore ReefAmboyna CaySouthwest ShoalMariveles ReefBarque Canada ReefDevelopment of Malaysia's Claims in Spratly Islands

Malaysia insisted - are within its proclaimed 200 nautical miles EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and should be under Malaysian jurisdiction.protested against Vietnam when the latter occupied Amboyna Cay and it started armed occupation itself in the Spratlys of Swallow Reef in June 1983 - Five-Power Defence Arrangement held a naval exercise in the South China SeaMalaysia renamed the Swallow Reef to Terumbu Layang-Layang or Pulau Layang-Layang and established a permanent military presence there.mid-1990s - Malaysia developed the atoll into an island resort as an exercise to enhance its claim over this feature.Beside Swallow Reef, Malaysia has further occupied Dallas Reef (Guangxingzai Jiao, renamed to Terumbu Ubi by Malaysia), Mariveles Reef (Nanhai Jiao, renamed to Terumbu Mantanani by Malaysia) and six other islets.

Base of Malaysia's ClaimsMalaysia's claim is presumably based on the conviction that the islands are situated on its continental shelf, well within its declared exclusive economic zone (EEZ), security and its proximity to the mainland.

Exploitation of Oil and Gas in Spratly Islands by MalaysiaWith its advantage of geographic location to the Spratlys, Malaysia has been actively exploiting the oil and gas resources in the Spratly Islands area, especially the Zengmu Ansha (James Shoal) area and the Nankang Ansha (south Luconia Shoal) area. Malaysia has benefited the most from the exploitation of the natural resources in Spratlys.

Malaysia's Attitudes towards Cooperation and Joint DevelopmentMalaysia has been reluctant on the "Shelving Disputes and Joint Development" proposed by China, especially for the development of the area where Malaysia has developed to oil and gas fields.Brunei claims the Spratly Islands Brunei is one of the countries that claim some islands (reefs) in this Spratly. However, Brunei claims made unlike the others country. Brunei claims - 1984 - was not officially part of Brunei does not claim the Spratly Islands for other purposes. Brunei only make a claim on part of Louisa Reefs on or by applying the law are enshrined in international law, namely the EEZ zone. EEZ claims on the islands are only for the purpose of commercial fishing (fishing zone). However, Brunei claims not openly or formally.