PUTRAJAYA: One of the self-proclaimed heirs of the Sulu sultanate has been classified as a terrorist by the government.
Khairul Dzaimee Daud, director-general of the Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division, said the home ministry has listed Fuad A Kiram as a terrorist.
He said Fuad has been linked to the Royal Sulu Force (RSF), an entity also classified as a terrorist group under Section 66B of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The classification took effect from April 6.
Fuad is one of the eight people claiming to be descendants of the Sulu sultan who secured a disputed arbitration award against Malaysia last year.
Khairul said the unity government would be taking a new approach in dealing with the Sulu heirs’ claim.
“Previously, the approach (to deal with the case) was in the form of ‘firefighting’ with regards to the countries involved,” he said at a press conference here today.
He said, previously, the government would appeal against decisions by foreign courts and seek to set aside the awards granted.
However, he said under the new leadership, the approach had been changed to an “offensive” mode, adding that “the best defence is (to) attack”.
Khairul also said the Cabinet had also agreed to the appointment of a UK-based public relations firm to manage the global narrative and media strategy regarding the case. However, he did not reveal the name of the firm.
He added that the legal affairs division would engage with stakeholders in Sabah on the case.
He also said Wisma Putra had sent a diplomatic note to the 171 countries where a US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) award granted by the French arbitration court to the heirs of the last Sulu sultan was enforceable under the New York Convention.
Khairul said the home minister would also make a visit to the four countries involved in the arbitration of the case, namely France, Spain, Luxembourg and Netherlands, to explain to his counterparts the issues and the facts surrounding the claim.
