THE Sabah government is ready to provide any input and support of the federal government’s efforts to address the claims by a Sulu group, says Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan.

He said the state government would appoint one or two representatives fo a special secretariat to address the issue.

“Our job is to provide input based on our views and the history of the claim,” he told reporters after attending a briefing session on the issue in Kota Kinabalu today.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said and 25 Sabah assemblymen.

Jeffrey, who is also the president of the Homeland Solidarity Party (Star), said the appointments would be discussed at the Sabah government cabinet meeting before being finalised, and said he had urged all assemblyman to convey the true picture to the grassroots regarding the issue.

Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jin Zhe, who is also Luyang assemblyman, said as a member of the Sabah cabinet, he was very pleased with the Federal government’s efforts in addressing the matter.

“Although it only involves commercial claims, if we are not stern, it could create (other issues) in regards to Sabah’s sovereignty,” said the DAP assemblyman.

Sindumin assemblyman Yusof Yacob said such a claim should never have taken place as Sabah had chosen to form Malaysia in 1963.

“Even the Philippines does not recognise this group which is making the claim,” said the assemblyman from Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

The Sulu group had been reported as having filed legal action through the Spanish Court to seek compensation for land in Sabah, which they claimed was leased by their ancestors to a British trading company in 1878.

They brought the matter for arbitration in Spain in 2019, and subsequently arbitrator Dr Gonzalo Stampa, who was appointed by the group, made a decision favouring the claimants.

The decision was used to seize Petronas assets in Luxembourg.

Malaysia has used all available legal remedies to nullify the two awards given by Stampa to the group. – Bernama, March 1, 2023.