No compromise on claims by so-called Sulu heirs, Azalina assures Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia is taking all necessary measures to stop the self-claimed Sulu descendants' continuous attempts to seize Malaysian properties following the controversial US$14bil (RM63bil) award by arbitrator Gonzalez Stampa, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) said that the Federal Government and the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not compromise on the sovereignty and security of the country.

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"We will not stop trying to protect and preserve the interests and sovereignty of Malaysia at all times.

"We continue to take all necessary actions to stop the demands of the so-called heirs to the Sulu sultanate by using all the powers, rights and resources available," she said after briefing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and state government officials over the matter.

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She said the meeting was also aimed at gathering the views from Sabahans who were directly affected by the so-called claim.

"The government is committed to the affairs of the people of Sabah and will work hard to ensure the peace, prosperity and security of Sabah is always guaranteed," she added.

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Azalina was accompanied by federal government officials officials from the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), Attorney General's Office (AGC) and representatives of the secretariat Special Prof Datuk Dr Sundra Rajoo and Datuk Feroz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin at the briefing.

She said the briefing session was similar to that given to MPs from both the government and Opposition block on Tuesday (Feb 28) to explain the issues surrounding the Sulu claimants.

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They were also briefed on the background of the claim and Malaysia's actions being taken in courts in four jurisdictions – Spain, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

A controversial decision was made at the Paris Court of Arbitration by arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa to award US$14.92bil to the self-claimed heirs to the Sulu sultanate.

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Stampa, who was stopped by Spanish courts from hearing the case, however, moved the arbitration to Paris to make his decision in Paris.

However, Malaysia has managed to obtain a stay order on Stampa's controversial award from French courts pending a hearing in June this year.

However, lawyers for the Sulu group used Stampa's order to attempt to seize two PETRONAS companies – Petronas Azerbaijan and Petronas South Caucus. The first attempt was stopped and a second attempt was made recently.

An attempt was also made in the Netherlands.