'Not to wage war against M'sia'
Published on: Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: A Filipino accused in the Lahad Datu intrusion trial told the High Court here Tuesday, his appointment as 'panglima' or Filipino Suluk community leader in Kunak was not for the purpose of waging war against the Malaysian Government.Julham Rashid, 69, said the so-called Sulu sultan, Esmail Kiram, who appointed him, had never mentioned war whenever he came to Sabah and would rather seek peace in any dispute."He (Esmail) appointed us ('panglimas') to help preserve the Islamic teaching among the youngsters (of the Filipino Suluk community).
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"If the 'sultan' ordered me to do what is good, I will abide by his orders," he testified in the Suluk language. The testimony was translated by a court interpreter.Julham said this in his defence on two charges of being a member of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during an armed intrusion at Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in 2013.On the intrusion at Kampung Tanduo, the accused said he knew the leader of the intruders, Agbimuddin Kiram, only by name, but did not know how he was linked to Esmail.
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"'Sultan' Esmail told me not to follow any other Sulu 'sultans' who came to Sabah, including his own brother, Raja Muda Agbimuddin," he said.Thirteen Filipinos and a local are entering their defence before Justice Stephen Chung at the Sabah Prison Department for various offences allegedly committed between Feb 12 and April 10, 2013.
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Some of the accused are facing one to multiple charges of being members of a terrorist group and waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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