THE people of Sabah and the state government do not recognise any claim put forward by the so-called heirs of the Sulu group, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said.

He said Sabah people have chosen to form the Federation of Malaysia through the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) and, therefore, any external claims against the state will not be recognised by them.

He said the state government is confident that the federal government will take serious action and concrete steps to resolve any issue of claims on Sabah, including those made by the group.

“We definitely are confident (with the federal government) because we ourselves do not recognise the claims (of the heirs of the group) of the Sulu Sultanate,” he told reporters after presenting Ramadan donations to single mothers and less fortunate residents in Putatan today.

The event was held at Masjid Jamek Putatan, with about 400 residents receiving donations. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister III Shahelmey Yahya, who is also the Putatan MP, and Petagas state assemblyman Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari.

The heirs of the Sulu group were previously reported to have taken legal action in a Spanish court to seek compensation for the land in Sabah, which was allegedly leased by their ancestors to a British trading company in 1878.

Hajiji also said he is confident that the federal government will be able to complete some of the matters that have not yet been implemented in the MA63 for Sabah and Sarawak.

“I believe the leadership Prime Minister (Anwar Ibrahim) will give due consideration to issues (related to MA63) that have yet to be implemented,” he said.

On January 19, in Kuching, Anwar was reported to have said the federal government is of the opinion that every agreement signed with Sabah and Sarawak, including the MA63, must be respected and fulfilled. – Bernama, March 29, 2023.