KOTA KINABALU: The Sulu heirs claim issue is not something to be taken lightly nor to be taken by a pinch of salt but Malaysia certainly do not want to be hasty and too excited in discussing about it which can be used against it in future, says Pantai Dalit Assemblyman Jasnih Daya.
He said during the recent State Legislative Assembly sitting attempts to have a debate on this issue has been called off as the Speaker said it is under the Federal list, where the international matters and security are in the Federal Government purview.
“Therefore it is sufficient enough for the Members of Parliament (MPs) to address it in the Dewan Rakyat and as far as we all know the motion to debate is rejected due to sub-judice. It is not the right time to take political mileage on this issue, “good things happen to those who wait” – Winston Churchill,” he said in a posting on his Facebook.
Jasnih also does not think that the Federal Government has taken this with “sekadar melepaskan batuk di tangga (not serious in doing things)” as claimed by certain quarters.
He said the MPs were called in for a special briefing and later classified this issue under the Official Secret Act as it could provide some loophole the ongoing case if talked openly.
“Our stand in Sabah is unanimous, that we do not recognise the Sulu claim. What seems to be forgotten is that the Cobbold Commission did register a referendum in Sabah and we choose to form Malaysia and by that, we are self-governance before Malaysia Day. Always remember “Marilah Bersama Serta Maju Jaya, Merdeka Sepanjang Masa. Bersatu Segala Bangsa Sentosa, Sabah Negeri Merdeka (Sabah state anthem),” he said.
It was reported that assets of two Petronas subsidiaries in Azerbaijan were seized by bailiffs for the heirs of the now-defunct Sulu sultanate, who were claiming US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) from Malaysia earlier this month.
Bernama, which quoted the Financial Times, reported that lawyers for the plaintiffs reportedly seized Petronas’ assets registered in Luxembourg, namely Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucasus, with a reported value of over US$2 billion (RM8.8 billion).
Since then, Malaysian has been granted by the Paris Court of Appeal in France, a stay on the enforcement of the Final Award on claims by parties claiming to be heirs and successors-in-interest to Sultan Jamalul Kiram II.
Last Friday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Laws) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in a press statement said that the cabinet was setting up a special task force to examine, monitor and formulate an action plan to address the issue of the heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II the (Sultan Sulu) against the Malaysian government.
The special task force, to be headed by Wan Junaidi, would include Foreign Minister Datuk Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idris Harun and other experts.
