‘Put to rest other claims on Sabah too’

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s recent victory in the Sulu case should propel the government to shut down any other claims towards Sabah, say veteran Sabah leaders at a conference on international arbitration yesterday.

The leaders, including Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, called on the global community to stand with Sabah in rejecting the unfounded claims by the self-professed Sulu heirs, which threatens the principles of international order.

“The international community has been pivotal in supporting Malaysia’s position on this matter,” Hajiji said at the International Arbitration Colloquium 2023 held at a convention centre here.

“We are grateful for the solidarity expressed by our friends and allies, who understand the importance of upholding the principles of sovereignty and of territorial integrity,” he said.

Another veteran Sabah politician, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin urged Putrajaya to take a harder line against claims by the Philippines on Sabah.

“The Federal Government should knock on the Philippine president’s door and tell him they should stop these claims on Sabah as we are all part of the United Nations,” said Pandikar.

He said the government woke up to the consequences of these claims after the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion, where armed men claiming to represent a Sulu Sultanate landed in Lahad Datu to assert their territorial claims.

Former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee meanwhile felt that it was vital that Malaysia gets the Philippine government to set up a Consulate in Sabah, to put an end to such breakaway claims.