KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah speaker’s office has refused to accept a memorandum asking for the Sulu sultanate issue to be debated from approximately 50 activists near the state assembly building here today, their spokesman said.
The activist group called Solidariti Anak Sabah had gathered on the road located near the foothill leading to the Sabah assembly building around 11am but was immediately stopped by police officers at the security checkpoint.
Police told the group that the state speaker, deputy state speakers and staff could not meet them as they were busy with assembly duties.
Former Moyog assemblyman Jenifer Lasimbang was also present at the gathering today.
Following an hour of verbal exchanges, police allowed them to walk to a nearby car park located at the gates of the assembly building, but they were still refused entry.
Moments later, a spokesman from the group, Mohd Ismail Ayob, announced that the speaker had refused to accept their memorandum.
“We have waited for the state speaker but he has refused to accept our memorandum.
“The assembly sitting will end on Thursday. But when he asked us to hand over the memorandum next week after the sitting. This means our effort will no longer have purpose,” he told the media following the group’s effort.
Ismail then urged the state speaker to allow the debate to be held in the assembly.
Yesterday, Sabah Speaker Datuk Kadzim Yahya refused the motion put forth by opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to debate the Sulu sultanate matter, explaining that the issue should instead be referred to Parliament.
However, a similar motion was also rejected by the Dewan Rakyat speaker the same day after Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis had filed it.
Isnaraissah was given a two-day suspension after refusing to back down and insisting for a debate on the issue.
Isnaraissah and Shafie had called for debate on the matter in light of the seizure of the Petronas assets in Azerbaijan by the Sulu sultanate heirs who had been given a RM62.69 billion award by a Paris arbitration court last February.
Isnaraissah, Shafie as well as several other Warisan MPs from Sabah argued that the issue is of great importance as it involves the matter of security and national sovereignty. The Sulu sultanate heirs have also not relinquished their claim over Sabah.
The Sabah assembly sitting began on July 18 and will end on July 21. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
