KOTA KINABALU – Sabah opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal rubbished claims that he was in Spain when the Sulu heirs attempted to get arbitration in the country.
The former Sabah chief minister also said in a statement today that no state officials had gone to Spain for the case as alleged.
“Of late, former foreign affairs minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee have been insinuating my personal involvement with the heirs by saying that I was in Spain when the case came up in 2019.
“I was never there in Spain and to my knowledge no Sabah officials have gone to Spain over the case. I believe Wisma Putra and the federal Attorney-General’s Chambers handled the matter and stopped the bid by the ‘heirs’ to get a judgment in Madrid.
“They should read the extensive and clear explanation by Wisma Putra and the AGC on March 2, 2022 and by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on March 10, 2022 on the matter following the Paris court’s decision.
“It is very clear that the matter was handled by the federal government and neither Sabah nor I was involved,” he said.
On Monday, Yong had called on Shafie to explain whether he was involved in the Sulu heirs' claim in court in Madrid, Spain in 2019.
Yong cited a Sabah news portal report of Shafie’s response to Anifah’s jibe that Shafie had kept silent over the Philippine claim on the state in 2020, when the Semporna MP was chief minister.
However, a recent controversy involving the Sulu heirs’ claim saw both Anifah and Yong insinuate that Shafie was somewhat involved, based on the report.
“Warisan firmly believes that the issue of the so-called claim by the defunct Sulu sultanate should be given top priority and resolved by the federal government.
“It is our (Warisan) stand that neither the Philippines nor any self-claimed heirs to the dissolved or unrecognised sultanate have any legal right to demand or make claims on Sabah.
“Whatever claims by Manila or the heirs directly or indirectly should not be entertained as Sabah is an independent country that became part of the federation of Malaysia under the auspices of the United Nations,” said Shafie, adding that he had often urged the Malaysian government to take proactive steps to resolve the issue and not just leave it on the backburner.
He said the Paris Arbitration Court’s decision to award RM63 billion to the so-called heirs was shocking, adding however the response from Wisma Putra and federal Attorney General’s office was clear on the issue.
Similarly, Shafie said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri had also come forward, saying Malaysia is contesting the decision of the Paris court.
“Both Anifah and Yong are not qualified to give views on the Sulu claim.
“They lack legal understanding of the matter and instead make press statements that amount to disinformation, all intended to mislead people and glorify themselves,” he said.
Shafie said Anifah himself knew the Philippines government does not recognise the Sulu sultanate, calling them terrorists and criminals during the bloody Lahad Datu incursion in 2013.
He added that no government recognises them and their claim, which does not make any sense at all.
“This issue should not be politicised. As Sabahans, we must be united and protect our sovereignty,” he said. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022
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