Sabah wants inclusion in responding to Sulu claim
Published on: Monday, August 08, 2022
Masidi said the State’s inclusion should apply to all issues for necessary preparations “to fight them (heirs) in an international forum”.
THE Sabah Government wants to be included in the Federal Government’s plans to counter the claims of the “heirs” of the Sulu sultanate.Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said although he was assured by the Prime Minister’s statement that legal action would be taken, it was only right that Sabah be involved in any discussions on the matter moving forward.
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“I think what’s important is that Sabahans, or at least the state government, need to be included by the federal government in any issue for the purpose of preparing for a fight in an international forum,” said Masidi, who is also the State Second Finance Minister.
He was referring to the special task force to address the issue, headed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Laws) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Masidi said the State’s inclusion should apply to all issues for necessary preparations “to fight them (heirs) in an international forum”.
He reiterated that none of the nation’s (Petronas) assets have been seized by the claimants.
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He said he trusts a recent Petronas statement explaining that stakes in the Shah Deniz natural gas project in Azerbaijan’s Caspian Sea was sold off to LUKOIL of Russia last year.
“Even if Shah Deniz might be a shell company, I listen to what is being officially established.
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“They can call it seizing an asset but if it’s a just a piece of paper, I don’t think that means anything. The Prime Minister has also issued a statement that actions have been taken to ensure such things would not happen in future,” he said.
Masidi said the consistency of the Sulu claims are yet to be determined by international law.
“Just like the French arbitration court that initially had allowed the petition but eventually went back to nullify its previous decision.
“And since we are talking of the Sultan of Sulu, which one is he? As far as we know there are 13 and we even have one here living in Kampung Likas,” he quipped.
The saga began in February when a French arbitration court awarded the purported Sulu heirs US$14.9 billion or some RM64 billion for the alleged breach of a lease in 1878.
The arbitration, initiated by the purported heirs and “successors” of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II in 2017, was due to the stoppage of an annual stipend of RM5,300 in 2013 after the sultanate invaded Lahad Datu in Sabah.
While Malaysia had refused to acknowledge the ruling and challenged its legality, it was reported that two Petronas Luxembourg-registered subsidiaries, valued at about RM8.87 billion, were seized pursuant to the arbitration.
On July 12, the Paris Court of Appeal allowed the Malaysian Government’s application to stay the enforcement of the final award on claims by the Sulu parties, but it is arguable whether the stay can be enforced outside of France.
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