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United Tausug Citizens demands US$15 bil ‘cession money’ from Malaysia | Scoop
According to Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, the United Tausug Citizens group, which claims to be the rightful custodians of the Sulu sultanate territory, has threatened to commence legal action against Malaysia in the United States. – Azalina Othman Said Facebook pic, March 9, 2024
News

United Tausug Citizens demands US$15 bil ‘cession money’ from Malaysia

Law minister describes bid as baseless attempt to claim sovereignty over M’sian territory, extort unfounded payments

Scoop Reporters
Updated
12:12 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – A self-styled group, the United Tausug Citizens (UTC) People of the Sultanate of Sulu, has asked the Malaysian government for an immediate payment of US$15 billion (RM70.26 billion) in “cession money” and recognition of UTC as a sovereign and independent “state kingdom”.

The UTC group, which claims to be the rightful custodians of the Sulu sultanate territory, also threatened to commence legal action against Malaysia in the United States, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“This represents the latest frivolous and baseless attempt by a group to claim sovereignty over Malaysian territory and to extort unfounded payments from Malaysia.

“Malaysia is successfully defeating across Europe a similar attempt by the self-proclaimed heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II based on a fraudulent arbitration award issued by rogue arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa,” she said in a statement today.

Azalina stressed that the Sulu sultanate has been defunct for several decades and is not recognised by any sovereign state or international organisation, adding that Malaysia has never recognised the legitimacy of claims over the sovereignty, territory, and natural resources of Sabah.

“The recent conviction of Gonzalo Stampa by a Madrid criminal court to six months imprisonment and one-year disqualification from practicing as an arbitrator confirmed the criminal abuse of the arbitral processes and gross injustices suffered by Malaysia as a result of the so-called Sulu case.

Malaysia has never recognised the legitimacy of claims over the sovereignty, territory, and natural resources of Sabah, Azalina said.

“The Malaysian government once again emphasises that the exercise of self-determination by Sabah to become part of Malaysia has been a settled legal fact since decolonisation in 1963.

“Since then, Sabah has been an integral part of Malaysia,” she said.

Acknowledging the crucial function of the international commercial arbitration system in global dispute resolution, Azalina stressed the need to protect it from improper attempts to extort sovereign states under the guise of arbitration claims.

She also said the Malaysian government is actively looking at all possible legal remedies against any frivolous claims to defend its sovereignty, security, and interests at all times. – March 9, 2024

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