KOTA KINABALU – Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung has called out the government for holding a closed-door briefing on the Sulu claim over the state, saying that it should have been public.
Poon said all assemblymen in Sabah received a “last-minute” invitation to attend a briefing at the state legislative office this morning to discuss the Sulu sultanate’s claim.
He said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar were also present at the briefing.
All assemblymen were asked to leave their mobile phones outside to avoid recording in the room, he added.
“Personally, as a trained lawyer, I believe this matter should be allowed to be debated in the state legislative assembly sitting to dispel any misconceptions in the eyes of the public.
“The general public has the right to know what the claim means in reality; the impacts it can have on Sabahans and foreign investors.
“I see no secret of anything being briefed, except, perhaps, on the strategies. (But) that is a different matter,” he said in a statement today.
Poon, who is Tg Papat assemblyman, said Sabah DAP reps had submitted a motion to debate on the Sulu claim. However, it was rejected by the speaker on the pretext that it is related to foreign affairs and the nation’s defence, and such security issues are under federal jurisdiction.
Poon said that while Sabah DAP does not deny the federal government’s jurisdiction, the issue that they want to debate on is the legality of the claims and the impacts they could have on Sabah and its properties.
“The land law is under the State List under the Ninth Schedule,” he said, referring to the federal constitution.
“In short we want to debate the issue of Sabah’s sovereignty. The federal government does not have jurisdiction in matters of immigration and land in Sabah,” he said.
Poon also said the Sulu claim could give rise to improper support among many in the Philippines as well as illegal immigrants residing in Sabah.
“I don’t believe in just sweeping the matter under the carpet as we Sabahans are very much affected; at least psychologically by the claims and the decision of the arbitration in France.
“Many Sabahans out there are laymen and hence need our state government to clear the air,” he said. – The Vibes, July 29, 2022
