AG urged to explain conflicting statements over Sulu heirs

 

The attorney-general has been urged to explain the conflicting statements over whether the government recognised the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate, which had claimed sovereignty over Sabah.

PETALING JAYA: The attorney-general (AG) has been urged to explain conflicting statements about the government’s position on the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate, who had pressed their claims on Sabah.

A senior lawyer, Haniff Khatri Abdulla, said there was a conflict between the AG’s statement and a British lawyer’s claim which he said could affect Malaysia’s credibility.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers had earlier said that Putrajaya did not recognise claims filed by the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate.

However, a London-based lawyer of the heirs said former attorney-general Tommy Thomas had formally recognised the claimants and their rights “for years”, and had been directly and individually involved with the heirs.

The question mark over the recognition of the heirs arises from a disputed arbitration award of at least RM62.59 billion (US$14.92 billion) to the descendants of the last Sulu Sultan.

The government said the arbitration award was illegal and was not recognised. - FMT