Malaysia to go on the offensive against Sulu claimants, says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be on the offensive to go against the claims made by the so-called Sulu heirs, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in charge of law and institutional reforms said that the government will be leveraging the international and local media to disseminate credible information regarding the Sulu case to the public.

She also said the government is in the process of finding out the mastermind behind the whole case representing the eight claimants.

“I’m thankful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and also the Cabinet members for agreeing to the strategy to use local and international media.

“When the rakyat knows the truth and gives their support to the government, we will be in higher spirits in continuing our fight against this claim,” she said in a press conference at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) here on Friday (June 30).

Azalina also said that the government will organise a series of colloquiums to spread fact-based information about the case around the country, including one in London, United Kingdom.

“It’s not a desperate defence but it is the right defence. We’re not afraid.

“The government can guarantee that we will fight to the end. Before that, we want them (the claimants) to pay the (arbitration) cost,” she added.

“We will not stop and will not compromise to any blackmail by any individual,” she said.

Previously, Azalina said the Malaysian government would also be suing the self-proclaimed heirs and their backers for damages.

She said the government was looking to receive €100,000 (RM492,000) as awarded by the French court against the claimants.

On Tuesday (June 27), the Court of Appeal in the Hague, the Netherlands decided in favour of Malaysia on compensation claims by eight claimants of the purported Sulu heirs.

The court's decision marks the nation's third successful bid at thwarting attempts by the claimants seeking compensation totalling US$14.94bil (RM68.8bil) against Malaysia since 2019.

They had failed in their bids in Spain and France earlier this year.