Younger brother named new Sulu ‘Raja Muda’

KOTA KINABALU: A younger brother of the late Azzimudie Kiram is taking over as 'Raja Muda' of the so-called Sulu sultanate.

Datu Phugdal Kiram, 68, has been named as the successor following the death of Azzimudie in southern Philippines from a heart attack at Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday according to a family spokesman.

Azzimudie, 74, who led the armed Sulu intrusion into Kampung Tanduo at Felda Savbah 17 near  Lahad Datu, Sabah, in February 2013  died at his home at Tubig Indangan village in the town of Simunul in Tawi-Tawi province.

Azzimudie, the brother of the late self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram, led about 200 gunmen of the Royal Sulu Army and occupied the remote seaside village from Feb 12, 2013 that led to a stand off with the Malaysian security forces.

During the military offensive to regain control of Tanduo in March that year, Azzimudie and several of his supporters escaped to Tawi-Tawi where he has been hiding out since.

Some 60 people, including nine Malaysian security personnel were killed, in the operations against the Sulu gunmen.

Arrested were another 30 people including Esmail Kiram’s son, Datu Amir Bahar Husin Kiram.

They were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) and subsequently charged for various offences including treason.

Their trial is currently underway.

Jamalul Kiram had died in October 2013.

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