THE lawyer appointed to handle the Sulu claimants’ dispute is confident the country has a strong chance of winning based on facts and evidence that clearly sides Malaysia, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said.

She added that she was currently conducting a visit together with a representative from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Solicitor-General II Almalena Sharmila and Malaysia’s ambassador to Spain Akmal Che Mustafa to Madrid, Spain, where the eight individuals involved in the Sulu claims dispute have begun arbitration proceedings.

During the visit, the law firm representing Malaysia, Uria Menandez from Spain, Bredin Prat (France), Fietta LLP (United Kingdom) and public relations consultants PA Associates (United Kingdom) briefed Azalina on the claims dispute while awaiting the decision by the International Court of Justice in Hague next Tuesday.

“Whatever the judgment, the Madani government will remain firm in our stand to continue efforts to ensure Malaysia’s sovereignty is preserved,” she posted on Facebook yesterday.

Azalina urged all Malaysians to continue to support government efforts in championing this issue and to pray for success and the preservation of the country’s sovereignty.

Eight Filipinos claiming to be descendants of the Sulu sultanate were reported to have taken legal action through arbitration at the Spanish court to obtain compensation over the alleged leasing of Sabah by their ancestors to the British East India Company in 1878. – Bernama, June 23, 2023.