Azalina: Govt investigating if any Malaysians aided Sulu claimants

The government is investigating if any parties in the country helped the alleged heirs of the Sulu sultanate in their claims against Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Azalina Othman Said said this would be an act of treason punishable by death.

“We want to investigate who is possibly involved within the country, who has provided the unusual strength (to the claims).

“(The claims) should not have happened... If they wanted to make a claim, it should have been done in 2013. But we do not know if there are internal manipulations,” she said in a group interview.

A group claiming to be the heirs of the Sulu sultanate has been seeking international arbitration to get US$14.92 billion from Putrajaya.

Malaysia is engaged in a legal battle to nullify the lawsuit - with Azalina leading the team.

“For now, the government cannot reveal Malaysia’s strategy to ensure victory for Malaysia. There are conflicting inputs, information, opinions, and positions in handling the Sulu claims issue.

“(However,) there were senior government officials who made decisions without cabinet approval regarding matters of national interest and sovereignty.

“Such matters should be brought to the attention of the cabinet. I believe in the principle of collective responsibility and the cabinet’s responsibility to Parliament under Article 43(3) of the Federal Constitution,” she added.

The Sulu legal action is in response to Malaysia cutting off annual lease payments of RM5,300 for Sabah to the sultanate in 2013 after the Lahad Datu invasion.

The lease was based on an agreement between the Sulu sultanate and a private company in 1878, which Malaysia later inherited in 1963.

Azalina believes the true motive behind the international arbitration was to get the lease payments reinstated.

However, she said the government will not succumb to such tactics and will strive to defend the sovereignty of the country from being violated.

“(Their claims) sought to cause disarray. How I see it is that they want us to pay to settle the claims. But, we will fight back.

“Only people from Sabah know about them. I have gone to Sabah to invite the (state) government representatives and we will fight.

“And I will not allow anyone to challenge our sovereignty. I will not allow anyone to use dirty tactics to get money,” she said. - Mkini