Azzimudie still in Sabah, claims Sulu sultanate

Malaysia and the Sulu sultanate made conflicting claims on the whereabouts of Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, who led more than 200 followers to Sabah last month to press their claim to the territory.

Yesterday, Malaysia's official Bernama news agency, reported that Azzimudie, crown prince of the sultanate, had fled Sabah, abandoning his followers and returned to the Philippines.

A separate report from the Star quoted Armed Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin as saying that Azzimudie (left) "has abandoned his men and fled to his homeland."

Meanwhile, inspector-general of police Ismail Omar told Malaysian journalists that, going by field commanders' reports, Azzimudie was no longer with his group in Sabah.

But today, Abraham Idjirani, spokesman and secretary-general of the sultanate, dismissed the reports as "propaganda" timed for the approaching Malaysian elections.

Idjirani said he last spoke with Azzimudie yesterday and was told the crown prince is still in Sabah, where he has continued to evade operations by Malaysian security forces.

Attempts to link Sabah crisis to GE13
There have been indications that the ruling Umno is increasing efforts to link the Sabah crisis to the general elections, with the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia newspaper claiming that the sojourn of Azzimudie and his followers was supposed to "take advantage of the election process tothrow the country into chaos."

Bernama also quoted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin ofaccusing the opposition of wanting to stir disorder to disrupt the elections.

In the Philippines, where mid-term elections are scheduled in May, President Benigno Aquino III has also claimed that a "conspiracy" was behind the Sabah journey of the sultanate's followers.

- Interaksyon