KUALA LUMPUR – The government is on the hunt for “masterminds” supporting and funding claimants to the Sulu sultanate in their legal suits against Malaysia, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The law and institutional reforms minister told the Dewan Rakyat she cannot reveal Putrajaya’s strategies but confirmed the government is in the process of identifying them.
“We have information that they (the masterminds) are the ones who are the driving force providing information to Sulu claimants,” Azalina said when replying a supplementary question by Datuk Matbali Musah (Sipitang-GRS) on how to prevent the heirs of the now-defunct Sulu sultanate from filing more claims.
She also replied to Semporna-Warisan’s Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal supplementary question asking her to identify the masterminds.
“What if they run away if we mention them in the Dewan? Semporna has to be patient because the legal process is not completed yet,” she said.
On Shafie’s query as to how Putrajaya would put an end to more claims, Azalina agreed there must be a definitive end to such attempts, adding that the Sulu claimants must have a funder since they have the financial ability to pursue legal challenges.
“They must have a funder, as they have financial capabilities to sue Malaysia.
“This is why we need to ensure that whatever strategies must be carried out properly and that those who have wronged the government must be prosecuted, sued and pay all the costs borne by the government,” she said.
The self-proclaimed heirs to the Sulu sultanate have been seeking compensation for land in Sabah they said was leased by their ancestors to a British trading company in 1878.
Malaysia was ordered to pay them US$14.92 billion (about RM70 billion) by Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa, whom Putrajaya considers a “rogue” arbitrator.
Stampa was then convicted of contempt of court by the Madrid High Court for disobeying court orders on his handling of the Sulu claimants’ dispute with Malaysia.
Last month, Madrid’s Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal and affirmed his guilty conviction for contempt of court, which led to a six-month jail sentence and one-year ban from practising as an arbitrator.
Malaysia is also in the final process of annulling the US$14.92 billion award by Stampa to the Sulu claimants. – June 24, 2024