EIGHT ‘mysterious’ individual who claimed to be the heir of the Sultan of Sulu who died in 1936 have tried to enrich himself by “extorting” US$14.9 bil from Malaysia.
This was revealed in the government-initiated Malaysia-SuluCase.gov.my website which was launched yesterday (April 14) to provide information and combat disinformation related to the ongoing case of the co-called heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (Sultan of Sulu) against Malaysia.
The eight claimants are (i) Nurhima Kiram Fornan; (ii) Fuad A. Kiram; (iii) Sheramar T. Kiram; (iv) Permaisuli Kiram-Guerzon; (v) Taj-Mahal Kiram-Tarsum Nuqui; (vi) Ahmad Nazard Kiram Sampang; (vii) Jenny K.A. Sampang; and (viii) Widz-Raunda Kiram Sampang.
The website was set up by multiple ministries including the Legal Affairs Division, the Prime Minister’s Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Multimedia to provide accurate legal case histories from different jurisdictions. It will be in five languages, namely English, Bahasa Malaysia, French, Spanish and Tagalog.
“The Malaysian government is battling an international arbitration award that threatens the sovereignty and security of the country,” espoused the website in its “case summary” section. “In February 2022, eight individuals that claim to be the descendants of the so-called Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram II, received an award of US$14.9 bil against the Malaysian government.”
Added the website: “Over 16% of Malaysia’s yearly budget is now at stake. Malaysia completely rejects the award, does not recognise its legitimacy, and is litigating across Europe to ensure that the award is overturned.”
For the uninitiated, the legal dispute between Malaysia and the Sultan Sulu heirs centers on a colonial agreement dating back to 1878, signed by the then Sultan of Sulu, Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent.
The agreement saw the Sultan of Sulu grant and cede his land and territory in North Borneo which is modern day Sabah to both European merchants. An amount of 5,000 dollars (local currency at the time) was agreed upon as cession money. In 1903, the Sultan of Sulu confirmed the cession of certain lands to the British North Borneo Company.
In 1962, the people of Sabah exercised their right to self-determination and joined the Federation of Malaysia when it was formed in 1963. The Malaysian government has never recognised the legitimacy of the so-called Sulu Sultanate.
The payments were terminated in 2013 after a violent armed invasion of Sabah – launched from the Sulu Archipelago – under orders of the self-proclaimed Sultan Jamalul Kiram III which saw 73 people killed.
The Malaysian government in this instance took decisive and logical action in response to a threat to its security, eliminating any possible connection between Government money and attacks on its soil.
The ‘Royal Sulu Forces’ responsible for the 2013 attack have since been designated a terrorist group by the Malaysian government with the preservation of security in Sabah remains a critical priority. – April 14, 2023
