KOTA KINABALU – Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor wants the federal government to get rid of the Sulu heirs’ claim over Sabah for good, given the positive progress of the ongoing case abroad.
“We are truly happy,” said the Sulaman assemblyman in citing the Madrid high court’s rejection of the Sulu heirs’ constitutional appeal and the French court’s decision to stay the enforcement of the final award to the heirs.
“These show the claims presented by the heirs’ do not have any basis,” he said of the Spanish court decision.
“The people of Sabah and the Sabah government are delighted with these developments,” Hajiji told reporters after handing over a four-wheel drive vehicle to each of 21 community development leaders’ units (UPPM) at Menara Kinabalu here today.
According to Hajiji, the state is leaving it to the Foreign Ministry and the law minister to resolve this issue and settle the claim indefinitely.
He was commenting on the announcement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Azalina Othman about the Spanish Constitutional Court’s rejection of the extraordinary constitutional appeal filed by individuals claiming to be heirs of the Sulu Sultanate yesterday.
The appeal was to challenge the annulment of Gonzalo Stampa as arbitrator in the claim.
Azalina noted that the claimants had complied with the annulment while taking steps to appoint a new arbitrator and filing an appeal to overturn the annulment.
She said the appeal was rejected because the claimants appointed an arbitrator and therefore voluntarily abandoned the proceedings.
The Pengerang MP also said that French courts have stayed the enforcement of Stampa’s final award issued in France due to Malaysia’s challenge, as its enforcement may threaten the country’s sovereignty in Sabah.
Stampa’s annulment as arbitrator resulted in him losing authority to issue awards, but in open defiance nevertheless, he chose to deliver an illegal final award granting the claimants US$14.92 billion (RM63.36 billion) in compensation for the territory of Sabah, she said.
In another development, Hajiji said the state government gifted the 21 Toyota Hilux vehicles to the UPPM centres to allow officers to visit rural areas across Sabah.
“It is hoped that the vehicles will allow the UPPM officers to carry out their duties more effectively,” he said. – The Vibes, February 3, 2023
