Filipino Muslims back Sulu sultan’s heirs

SULU - Muslims in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the seat of power of the Sultanate of Sulu and Borneo, have assailed Sabah for attacking the credibility of the eight descendants of the last sultan of Sulu who secured a disputed arbitration award against Malaysia last year. 

“Kami ang tunay na may-ari ng Sabah. Sa amin ang Sabah at ang mga tunay na tagapagmana ng sultan of Sulu ang may karapatan na kunin o bawiin ang para sa aming mga Tausug. Inangkin lamang ng Malaysia ang Sabah mula sa amin. Hindi na maipagkakaila ang nakaraan," said Abdullah Abubakar, who reacted from the banner story of The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper entitled: “Malaysia attacks credibility of Sulu sultan heirs” (April 24-30, 2023 issue).

(We are the rightful owners of Sabah. It belongs to us and the legitimate heirs of the sultan of Sulu are just claiming what belongs to us Tausugs. Malaysia just grabbed Sabah from us. Our historical rights cannot be denied.)

Abubakar claimed many Tausugs are backing the eight descendants of the Sultan Jamalul Kiram II which has been identified by Malaysia as Sultan Muhammad Fuad A. Kiram I, Nurhima Kiram Fornan, Sheramar Kiram, Permaisuli Kiram-Guerzon, Taj-Mahal Kiram-Tarsum Nuqui, Ahmad Nazard Kiram Sampang, Jenny KA Sampang, and Widz-Raunda Kiram Sampang.

Award

In February 2022, the descendants of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II received an award of $14.9 billion against the Government of Malaysia. Over 16% of Malaysia’s yearly budget is now at stake. Malaysia flatly rejected the award and said it does not recognise its legitimacy, and is litigating across Europe to ensure that the award is overturned. 

The claimants had previously filed legal action through the Spanish Court to seek compensation for land in Sabah which they claim was leased by their ancestors to a British trading company in 1878. Malaysia has been paying the lease since taking Sabah in 1963.

The descendants were being supported or assisted by Therium, a leading global provider of legal finance covering all of the major markets, including Europe, North and South America and Asia Pacific. It provides third-party funding for a comprehensive range of cases, including single cases, group litigation and arbitration to corporates, investors and individuals. 

Marcos not relinquishing territory

The Philippine government has distanced itself from the Sabah claims being pursued by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last year said his administration would not relinquish even a square inch of the country's territory.

“From what I understand, the case is in the nature of a private claim by the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu with Malaysia. Therefore, it is not an issue of sovereignty or of territory at the moment,” said Trixie Angeles, then Press Secretary.

 “The President’s articulation of his statement about not giving up a square inch of territory will have to be reduced into writing and into specifics, after which, we will announce these to you if they are in any way related to the Sabah claim. At the moment, wala pa pong articulation, so we have to wait,” she added.

Angeles was referring to a statement of Marcos during his first State of the Nation Address. The president said while his administration pursues the “friend to all, enemy to none” stance, it would not relinquish even a square inch of Philippine territory.

Marcos said the Philippines will be a good neighbor that will always look for ways to collaborate and cooperate with the end goal of mutually beneficial outcomes. He did not say anything about the historical claims of the Sultanate of Sulu on Sabah.

Sultanate of Sulu

 Sultan Mohammed Jamalul Kiram II 

The Sultanate of Sulu, founded in 1457, continues to lay claim to Sabah which it obtained from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of World War II.

The Sulu Sultanate said it had merely leased North Borneo in 1878 to the British North Borneo Company for an annual payment of 5,000 Malayan dollars then, which was increased to 5,300 Malayan dollars in 1903. 

The Sultanate of Sulu is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. But North Borneo was illegally annexed by Malaysia in 1963 following a referendum illegally organised by the Cobbold Commission in 1962, the people of Sabah voted overwhelmingly to join Malaysia. (Mindanao Examiner)