Kota Kinabalu: Self-proclaimed new "Sulu Sultan" Datu Mohd Akjan Ali Mohammad is an ordinary Filipino who was just like any other foreign street kid washing cars for a living in Sabah when he first set foot decades ago.Hence, his recent self-styled coronation in a house in Kg Likas attended by some 60 people from Philippines, is aimed at gaining personal interest and mislead the Suluk community in Sabah to only listen to him.This is the view of an 82-year-old local whose great grandfather originated from the Philippines, Hj Wan Mohammad Hj Undas. Both Hj Wan Mohd and his daughter, Wan Limbisah, said there was nothing to prove that Akjan is even a relative to any Sultans of Sulu.
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"He (Akjan) mingled with the late (Chief Minister) Tun Datu Mustapha to gain popularity among local politicians," said Wan Mohd, adding he found out about Akjan's true identity from Sharif Osman Abu Bakar, Sultan Mohd Yakub Sultan Alimudin and Sultan Jamalulul Kiram, when the trio went to his (Wan's) house recently in Sabah."The trio do not recognise Akjan being a relative to any Sultans of Sulu," said Wan Mohd, adding it is unfair to other Filipino refugees who migrated to Sabah during Ferdinand Marcos regime should Akjan be allowed to declare himself "Sultan".
"If Akjan can claimÉit is not impossible for other Filipinos who are now Malaysian citizens to claim themselves as Sultan of Sulu," said his daughter Wan Limbisah.She lodged a police report against Akjan at the city police headquarters in Karamunsing, Saturday.
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"His action will mislead the Suluk community in Sabah including the locals," said Wan Limbisah, who is a chairwoman of Wanita Rukun Tetangga of Taman Hiburan.Wan Limbisah said if Akjan wants to claim the throne of the Sultanate of Sulu, "then he should do so in Philippines" and not from Sabah.
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It was reported that Akjan had been ceremoniously installed as the 33rd reigning Sultan of Sulu and took his oath of allegiance at a private ceremony in Likas early this month.It was reported that Akjan also wanted the Suluk community in Sabah to pledge loyalty to him which, if true, is tantamount to causing disrespect to the Agong, who is also the nation's Commander-in-Chief, as well as the office of the Sabah TYT (Governor).However, his self-proclaimed Prime Minister, Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain, later said it was merely a thanksgiving ceremony on Akjan's acceptance of the offer to be the so-called "Sultan of Sulu" according to the interim government of the Sulu Sultanate.Datu Albi said the proper coronation would be conducted later.Wan Limbisah, meanwhile, urged the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against Akjan, who she said had been detained under the Internal Security Act for manufacturing fake identity cards to his countrymen and other nationals in Sabah."The Umno Supreme Council must also sack Akjan from the party and the police to conduct immediate investigations into him for committing offence under constitution of the country," she stressed.
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Over the years, Akjan was said to be able to amass wealth through contracts through his dealings with certain politicians. It was also said that at one time he also owned a Ferrari which he had hoped to present to singer Siti Nurhalizah.
