KOTA KINABALU: The special secretariat handling claims by the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs admits there is a lack of historical knowledge and evidence on many matters pertaining to this issue as it involved many parties in the past.
As such, they have taken it upon themselves to address these shortcomings by among others, holding colloquiums on historical facts and narratives involving this matter, starting next week in Kuala Lumpur.
Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin, who is part of the secretariat, said that three colloquiums are being planned for now, with the next two set in Sabah and London.
“The dates have yet to be confirmed and we will make it known when the time comes,” he said during a briefing on the latest status pertaining to the Sulu claims on Malaysia here Friday (May 5).
He was responding to nominated assemblyman Datuk Yong Teck Lee’s statement that there are many inaccuracies in the historical background with regards to these claims, including the fact that Sabah was never actually under the Sulu Sultanate to begin with.
Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, said he has been actively studying and researching on this topic since the 1970s, and it was vital that the narratives and historical facts were being disseminated correctly so as to not confuse the public.
He said it is also to ensure that the so-called Sulu sultanate heirs do not continue pursuing whatever claims they want to on Sabah, be it monetary or other matters.
He said now, the claims have turned more to monetary terms, meaning this is opening up an avenue for opportunists or fake Sulu sultans to stake a claim.
“This has to be addressed. There are many fake sultans and even one in Kg Likas here,” Yong said.
He suggested for the Malaysian government to also start engaging with the Bangsamoro government in Southern Philippines to talk about security, economy and other related issues for the benefit of both parties.
Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick said by right, according to his understanding of formation of a country and the Cobbold Commission, a nation has the right to develop itself and its people with its own laws and ways it deems appropriate without the burden of others still staking claims on it.
“The focus for Sabah and Malaysia now should be on the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and not this never ending issue of Sulu claims on Sabah,” he said.
He feels that there should be research done properly on these matters and asked if there was a possibility that Sabahans can file a civil suit against the British government for negligence and so that the British can give a proper interpretation on these agreements prior to the formation of Malaysia and the MA63.
There were also calls to find out who was funding these people in these claims and lawsuits, while some also urged for the government to find out the motive behind this matter.
Earlier, Prime Minister’s Department legal affairs division director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the engagement session is hoped to get feedback from state assemblymen and other stakeholders to better counter the ongoing Sulu claims on Malaysia and Sabah.
He said all relevant parties were doing all they could to stop the self-claimed Sulu descendants' continuous attempts to seize Malaysian properties following the controversial US$14bil (RM63bil) award by arbitrator Gonzalez Stampa last year.
