The government has agreed to form a special task force led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to scrutinise, monitor and draft a plan based on existing legal provisions to address the issue of claims made against Malaysia by purported heirs of the Sulu sultanate.
Wan Junaidi (above), in a statement, said the special task force will comprise Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, attorney-general Idrus Harun and experts on international arbitration.
"The Legal Affairs Department (BHEUU) together with the Attorney-General's Chambers is in the process of deciding the term of reference and any extra members needed by the special task force.
"BHEUU and the Foreign Affairs Ministry will act as a secretariat for the special task force," he said.
The special task force was formed in response to the latest claims made by the purported heirs against Malaysia, this time through reported seizures of Petronas' foreign assets.
Earlier today, Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin urged the government and Attorney-General's Chambers to clarify issues over the seizure of Petronas' assets by purported descendants of the Sulu sultanate who are claiming US$14 billion from Malaysia.
Khaled, in a statement, stressed that the government's words should put an end to confusion arising from conflicting statements by various parties, with some blaming decisions made by BN during its time in power, while others pointed fingers at Pakatan Harapan.
"In this matter, I believe the public has a right to know the truth in a transparent manner with no political elements and without being moulded according to the interests of certain parties.
"There’s no other more valid way besides a statement from the government. The government, particularly the Attorney-General's Chambers, must come forward with an official statement that is complete, transparent and sincere," said the former Johor menteri besar.
‘Set up RCI’
Alternatively, Khaled said the government could consider setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) as a tested neutral forum to probe matters of national public interest.
He noted how the RCI had in the past been used on other cases, including Sabah's migrant crisis in 2012, the discovery of the Wang Kelian mass graves in 2018 as well as most recently on the management of Tabung Haji.
"No matter what the government's final chosen instrument or approach would be, our main focus should be to deliver information and enlighten the people.
"Failure to do so will surely fuel disagreements among many parties. Particularly those who will not stop sharing their own versions and claims related to the matter," he said.
Khaled also alluded to Malaysia's experience in handling attacks by Sulu insurgents, stressing that the current development could pose a risk to national security unless swiftly handled.
Asset seizure
On Monday, London-based Financial Times reported that the purported heirs of the Sulu sultanate - who are claiming US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) from Malaysia - seized two Luxembourg-incorporated subsidiaries of Petronas.
Lawyers of the claimants seized Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucasus, reportedly worth US$2 billion.
The lawyers said bailiffs in Luxembourg seized the holding companies on behalf of their clients on Monday.
The purported descendants of the last Sulu sultan, Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, are claiming the astronomical sum from Malaysia following an arbitration process.
The arbitration process was initiated in response to Malaysia cutting off the annual lease payments of RM5,300 to the Sulu sultanate in 2013 in the wake of a bloody incursion in Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah by a militant group from the Philippines claiming to represent the Sulu sultanate.
Several opposition MPs have since sought an emergency Dewan Rakyat debate during the upcoming session beginning July 18. - Mkini
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