TAWAU: The advisor of the Sabah Drug Prevention and Crime Organization (PPDJS), Mohd. Zaki Harry Susanto, emphasised that the ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal, which completely annulled the final award issued by arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa on February 28, 2022, does not imply that the threat to Sabah has concluded.
He said that although Malaysia has now been cleared of the invalid arbitration claims and the Sulu claimants have been ordered to pay costs amounting to €200,000 (approximately RM959,180) to the country, this episode should serve as a stern reminder that the security of Sabah must not be taken lightly.
“This is a legal victory. However, from the perspective of security, geopolitics, and sovereignty threats, it is far from over. We cannot afford to be complacent,” he remarked when asked to comment on the latest developments today.
Mohd. Zaki pointed out that what is more crucial now is to understand that Malaysia’s success in foreign courts does not change the fact that the Philippine government has never officially withdrawn its historical claims over Sabah, thus keeping this issue alive and potentially manipulable at any time.
“As long as Manila does not take a definitive stance, Sabah will continue to face ‘imminent threats’, not only from the diplomatic claim aspect but also from the risk of exploitation by interested parties, including irresponsible groups,” he stated.
He added that the history of the Lahad Datu incursion should serve as a lesson that threats do not necessarily begin through official channels but often start through provocation, propaganda, or minor movements that may seem trivial at the initial stage.
“I believe ESSCOM does not overlook this matter. What happens on the international stage can trigger a wave of responses on the ground, especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE), which is the closest and most vulnerable entry point,” he said.
