PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun rejected an opposition MP's motion to debate the RM62.59 billion “award” to the alleged descendants of the Sulu sultanate.
In a letter to Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) yesterday, Azhar (above) said her motion did not fulfil Standing Order 18(1).
Azhar said he rejected the motion on grounds that it was a motion to “menggesa” (urge) the government to provide a detailed explanation on the matter.
However, he argued that Standing Order 18(1) only allowed for motions to “merundingkan” (discuss) a matter.
Azhar said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will address the topic during question time today.
He added that the matter has also been addressed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Attorney-General's Chambers through a statement on March 10.
Standing Order 18(1) allowed for any MP, other than a cabinet minister, to seek permission from the speaker to discuss a matter of “urgent public importance”.
Standing Order 18(2) stipulates that the speaker can refuse unless the speaker is satisfied that the matter is “definite, urgent and of public importance”.
‘Govt not serious about Sulu claim’
When contacted, Isnaraissah said she was very disappointed with the speaker for rejecting her motion and alleged that the government was not serious in dealing with the issue.
“The government’s position is that we do not recognise the claim. That is not the crux of the matter. What is of concern now is that there is an award by an arbitrator appointed by the French courts to pay the so-called descendants of the Sulu sultan.
“We should debate this in Parliament to urge the government to strike out the award. We have to fight it,” she said.
Isnaraissah said she was not satisfied with the government for failing to take action against Gonzolo Stampa, who was invalidated as arbitrator of the matter by the Spanish courts.
“It is sad that matters regarding Malaysia”s sovereignty are not taken seriously by the Dewan Rakyat,” she said.
Earlier today, Wan Junaidi spoke about the matter during question time and explained what Malaysia did in response to the arbitration sought by the claimants.
Only Ahmad Hassan (Warisan-Papar) and Isnaraissah managed to ask follow-up questions. Azhar did not entertain further queries because question time only lasts for one hour.
Descendants of the last Sulu sultan - Sultan Jamalul Kiram II - had succeeded in obtaining the award from Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa.
They argued that the award was necessary after Malaysia had stopped making RM5,300 annual payments to the Sulu sultan’s heirs since 2013.
Malaysia’s position is that the award was defective and does not recognise their claims.
British lawyer Elisabeth Mason, who represents the claimants, told Malaysiakini that Malaysia has to fulfil the award because Malaysia is a signatory to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Award, also known as the New York Arbitration Convention. - Mkini
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