Malaysia, sultanate argue over Raja Muda's whereabouts

From InterAksyon (Mar 16): Malaysia, sultanate argue over Raja Muda's whereabouts

Malaysia and the sultanate of Sulu made conflicting claims on the whereabouts of Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who led more than 200 followers to Sabah last month to press their claim to the territory.

On Friday, Malaysia’s official Bernama news agency, reported that Agbimuddin, crown prince of the sultanate, had fled Sabah, abandoning his followers, and returned to the Philippines.

A separate report from Star Malaysia quoted Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Jeneral Zulkifeli Mohd Zin as saying that Agbimuddin "has abandoned his men and fled to his homeland." Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar told Malaysian journalists that, going by field commanders' reports, Agbimuddin was no longer with his group in Sabah.

But on Saturday, Abraham Idjirani, spokesman and secretary general of the sultanate, dismissed the reports as "propaganda" timed for the approaching Malaysian elections.

Idjirani said he last spoke with Agbimuddin on Friday and was told the crown prince is still in Sabah, where he has continued to evade operations by Malaysian security forces.

There have been indications that Malaysia’s ruling United Malays National Organization is increasing efforts to link the Sabah crisis to the general elections, with the UMNO-owned Utusan Malaysia newspaper claiming that the sojourn of Agbimuddin and his followers was supposed to “take advantage of the election process to throw the country into chaos.”

Bernama also quoted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of accusing the opposition of wanting to stir disorder to disrupt the elections.

In the Philippines, where mid-term elections are scheduled in May, President Benigno Aquino III has also claimed that a “conspiracy” was behind the Sabah journey of the sultanate’s followers.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/57224/malaysia-sultanate-argue-over-raja-mudas-whereabouts