Harris’ suggestion on ‘settlement’ slammed

Sabahans in a 1962 referendum chose independence through the formation of Malaysia, so the Sulu Sultan's claims is baseless, says an MP.

KOTA KINABALU: Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing has slammed the advice rendered by former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh that Malaysia make a lump sum RM200 million payment to the Sulu Sultanate as compensation for Sabah.

Describing the logic as “absurd” and “totally ridiculous”, Bumburing said he was shocked that such “shallow thinking still existed” when the issue now concerned the Philippines government and not just the now dissolved Sulu Sultanate.

“Every Malaysian, especially Sabahans, including Harris Salleh, should show their real concern for the independence and sovereignty of our country and every effort should be taken to defend our freedom from any foreign intrusion,” Bumburing said.

He said the disunity and infighting among the people of the southern Philippines had been going on for decades which had displaced thousand of their citizens to the extent that their plight have reached the shores of Sabah which is now part of an independent nation.

“Historically, the claim over Sabah by the Sultan of Sulu must be looked at and examined from two perspectives.

“Firstly, on the 24th April 1962, the Sulu Sultanate surrendered their sovereignty over all the Sulu archipelagos to the Philippines government meaning they no longer have any right to any of the territory,

“This instrument was thereafter followed by the Philippines government as the basis of their claims to Sabah which is being resolved at a diplomatic level.

“Secondly, in the same year the people of Sabah in a referendum carried out decided on independence through the formation of Malaysia and this decision was accepted and approved by the United Nations.

“The stability, security and the sovereignty of Sabah as an independent state within Malaysia must be respected by all sides including the Sultan of Sulu and the well-being of the people Sabah must be uphold and defended at all cost,” Bumburing said.

Earlier this week, Harris proposed that the Malaysian government permanently settle the long-standing issue raised by the Sultan of Sulu by paying him RM200 million in a final settlement instead of the current annual “cession” payment of just over RM5,000.

Saying that the RM200 million was equivalent to the monthly expenses for the armed forces to protect Sabah’s coastline, Harris suggested that of this amount RM50 million go directly to the Sulu Sultan’s descendants while the balance is used for the development of a Felda-style settlement scheme in Mindanao.