BN ally wants pro-Umno ‘Sultan’ charged in court

His self-declaration as the sultan is an act of treason which challenges the sovereignty of Malaysia.

KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition government member wants appropriate charges laid against a former Umno member for declaring himself the Sultan of Sulu and having a stake in the future of the state.

LDP secretary-general Teo Chee Kang said that as far as LDP was concerned, the declaration by businessman Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad is an act of treason which challenges the sovereignty of Malaysia.

“It defies the position of the Yang Dipertua Negeri as the head of our state,” he said, noting that the Philippines has kept alive a claim over Sabah.

“If this high-handed treachery is not handled with utmost care to reflect the firm stand of the Malaysia government, it carries implications that our sovereignty over Sabah is compromised,” he said in a statement issued here today.

Akjan, an influential Umno member who resigned from the party after his so-called coronation as “Sultan of Sulu” on Feb 2 raised a hue and cry in the state, was arrested by police and released unconditionally last Sunday after his week-long remand expired.

While several BN coalition parties expressed amazement over his seemingly special treatment, Umno, his former party has remained silent over his behaviour.

LDP along with fellow Sabah BN members Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and opposition parties are puzzled that no further action has been seen fit to deal with what they see as an ‘insult’ to the country.

Teo said the case has even raised doubts about Akjan’s claim that he is a Sabahan who was born in Kampung Limau-Limauan, Kudat.

“Kampung Limau-Limauan is a seaside village where everyone knows everyone. I happened to be there for a programme last Saturday. When I asked the Ketua Kampung who is above 70-years-old, he brushed off the story without any hesitation.

“Therefore, whether for reason of undermining the sovereignty of the Malaysia or forged or dual citizenship, an appropriate charge must be framed against Akjan so that the matter can be adjudicated in the courts.

“If he is found to have unlawfully acquired Malaysian citizenship, then the issue of revocation of his ‘citizenship’ will not arise because he has no valid citizenship to be revoked.

“Whatever the case may be, I urge the Home Ministry to also take stern actions as the national security is at stake,” he said.

Akjan is known to have a colourful past. In the mid-1990s he and other Umno operatives were arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act after he was allegedly caught with a briefcase containing about 2,000 Identity Cards at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on a return flight from Kuala Lumpur.