KUALA LUMPUR – The cabinet has agreed to set up a special task force to examine, monitor and formulate appropriate legal action to address the issue of claims by the heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (sultan of Sulu) against the Malaysian government.
In a statement, today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed that the task force will be led by himself.
Other members, he said, include Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and international arbitration experts.
“The Legal Affairs Division and the Attorney-General’s Chambers are determining the terms of reference and the addition of members for the task force if necessary,” he said, adding that both bodies will act as a secretariat for the task force.
He said the government takes seriously the issue of the interests of the country’s assets abroad being undermined by the sultan of Sulu’s heirs, especially assets under government-linked companies.
“Therefore, the government will take proactive and aggressive action in addressing this issue in order to defend the country's assets and sovereignty,” he added.
Malaysia has received a stay on the US$15 billion (RM64 billion) awarded to heirs of the Sulu sultanate after a French court found its enforcement could infringe on the country’s sovereignty.
The Financial Times had earlier reported that the Luxembourg-registered subsidiaries of Petronas, Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucus, which the company manages in Azerbaijan, were seized by bailiffs on behalf of the defunct sultanate’s descendants.
Responding to the report, Petronas admitted they have been served with “saisie-arret” on July 11 but clarified that the two firms had been divested of all its assets and the proceeds from the exercise have been duly repatriated.
It is unclear whether the two companies were still active in Azerbaijan when the legal letters were served.
“Petronas views the actions taken against it as baseless and is working vigorously to defend its legal position on this matter,” it said.
The seizure is part of the award issued by a French arbitration court totalling US$14.9 billion to the heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate. – The Vibes, July 15, 2022
