[UPDATED] Sulu claim: M’sia to throw book at collaborators, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will not hesitate to take legal action against any parties, including Malaysians, who provide support in any form or collaborate with the Sulu claimants, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The prime minister said police had started investigations into the Sulu claimants, the Spanish arbitrator who had decided in favour of the claimants, and other related parties under Section 124K of the Penal Code on the offence of sabotage.

“The Malaysian government will also continue to oppose any form of financing by third-party litigation funders who support the abuse of the process initiated by those making the claims,” he said.

He told the Dewan Rakyat this today when explaining the claims made against Malaysia by eight Philippine nationals claiming to be heirs of the Sulu sultanate.

The prime minister said all awards issued by arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa had breached international public policy because they were against the principles of diplomatic and jurisdictional immunity and sovereignty.

Anwar said the Malaysian government would continue to strongly fight the claims as they involve the interests and sovereignty of Malaysia and all Malaysians, including the people of Sabah. He also urged Malaysians to support the government’s efforts to put an end to the “unfounded Sulu claims”.

He said that so far the Sulu claimants had taken legal action against Malaysia in four countries, namely Spain, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, and Putrajaya had taken and was taking various counter legal actions against them.

The prime minister said as a result of these active countermeasures, the Malaysian government on June 6 received another piece of good news when a French appeals court decided to cancel the exequatur issued by a Paris court on September 29, 2021 recognising the preliminary award granted by Stampa on May 25, 2020.

He said the French appeals court’s ruling was a landmark decision for Malaysia, proving Putrajaya’s determination and firmness in tackling the matter.

Anwar said the ruling meant that the claimants could not rely on the preliminary award issued by Stampa in Madrid, Spain, which stated that the Spanish arbitrator had the jurisdiction to hear the claims. – Bernama, June 14, 2023