State Security should take action on proclamation of Sultan Sulu

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) wants to know the action that the State Government, particularly Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman as the chairman of the State Security Committee on the "Sultan of Sulu" proclamation in Sabah.

Its Deputy President Haji Amde Sidik said SAPP was puzzled for the seemingly delayed response from Musa on the matter, which had become a very hot issue among concerned Sabahans.

"The so-called proclamation of the Sultan Sulu happened in Kampung Likas and not in Jolo, Mindanao so why is the government not taking any action since it has created a lot of confusion and fear among the locals," he said.

"Could it be because the person involved is an Umno member? Does Umno condone such thing?" he asked.

There had been many people coming out before proclaiming themselves as the rightful heir to the Sulu Sultanate but this was the first time that a "coronation ceremony" was held in Sabah, he said.

Datu Akjan Ali Muhammad, a Malaysian businessman and a former ISA detainee was reported as having taken the oath of allegiance to be proclaimed as Sultan of Sulu at one of his properties in Kampung Likas here last week. He also claimed to have two citizenships which is against the country’s constitution.

All this while the Sulu Sultanate had maintained its claim over Sabah sovereignty, a claim that was eventually continued by the Philippines government, he said, adding that the Malaysian Government even continued to pay the annual cess to the Sulu Sultanate heirs in Manila.

"Maybe the government wants to resolve the illegal immigrant issue with the new Sultan of Sulu? Since Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is so confident about achieving solving the problem by 2012?" he said.