WikiLeaks reveals MNLF wants to regain Sabah

The cable noted that the Malaysian government at the time, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was wary of the close relationship between Misuari and Anwar.

(NST) - Anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks had revealed in 2007 that Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari harboured a strong desire to “regain” Sabah and that he had close ties with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

According to a secret cable from the United States’ Embassy in Manila to the office of US Secretary of State in Washington titled 07MANILA1534, MNLF attorney Ombra Jainal had described Misuari as “a strong advocate for the recovery of Sabah”.

Jainal was also quoted as saying that Misuari detested the Malaysian government for arresting and turning him over to the Philippine authorities in 2002.

 

WikiLeaks had published the confidential cable dated May 11 2007 on its website after it obtained the document from the US Embassy in Manila. 

 

Article Six of the classified cable also disclosed information that Misuari’s forces could invade and occupy Sabah within a span of just two hours.

 

“Misuari once commented to (Philippine Major General) Ben Dolorfino that when the timing was right, the MNLF could invade Sabah at 5am and control it by 7am.

 

“Dolorfino commented that Malaysia is not only concerned about Misuari's intentions towards Sabah, where he apparently still has hundreds of followers, but also about his recent contacts with Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim,” the cable mentioned.

 

The cable noted that the Malaysian government at the time, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was wary of the close relationship between Misuari and Anwar.

 

“Anwar is described as an “old friend” of Misuari’s… Over the past several months, Malaysian officials have held at least three meetings with Misuari and his wives,” the cable surmised, based on statements collected from both Jainal and Dolorfino.

 

Dolorfino was described by the cable as the Armed Forces of the Philipines (AFP) National Capital Regional Commander and the most senior AFP muslim officer as well as the chief of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group with the MNLF.

 

It is understood that a special envoy from the Malaysian government told Misuari, during an April 10. 2007 meeting, not to meddle in Malaysia's domestic politics. 

 

The meeting supposedly ended with Misuari giving an assurance to the Malaysian officials that he would not get involved with the country’s internal affairs.

 

“(However), Malaysia would likely seek stronger assurances that Misuari would not pursue the Sabah claim,” the cable concluded.

 

The full contents of the cable can be viewed at http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/05/07MANILA1534.html.

 

Last week, President Benigno Aquino III had said that there are signs of a conspiracy that led to the bloody intrusion of Sulu terrorists in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

 

Two Filipino news organisations, Inquirer News and The Manila Times, recently published articles quoting unnamed Philippine intelligence sources claiming that the intrusion by the terrorists, calling themselves the Royal Sulu Sultanate Army, was instigated by a leader from the Malaysian opposition.

 

On March 5, Philippine paper Manila Bulletin quoted an MNLF official as saying that thousands of its fighters would be heading to Sabah to reinforce the Sultanate of Sulu's forces currently battling the Malaysian Armed Forces.

 

The standoff, which is in its fourth week, has so far left 10 Malaysian security personnel and at least 60 of the Sulu gunmen dead.