Malaysia will win claim over Sabah 'hands-down' - historian

From the Philippine News Agency/Bernama (Mar 20): Malaysia will win claim over Sabah 'hands-down' - historian

PUTRAJAYA -- If the Philippine and Malaysian governments agree to take their claim over Sabah to the International Court of Justice, Malaysia would "win hands-down," says the country's leading historian.

Prof. Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim said, Malaysia would win the case, based on historical records and evidence which clearly showed that Sabah belonged to Malaysia.

He said, if there was another round of self-determination in Sabah, "all records are in our favor".

He added: "If the Philippine Government intends to take the claim of Sabah to the International Court of Justice, it will lose (the case), just like they lost Sipadan.

"They (the Philippines) have not been in charge of the island since 1873.

"More importantly, the people of Sabah have agreed to be part of Malaysia. This was the finding of the Cobbold Commission before the formation of Malaysia."

There was no immediate reaction to the historian's claim from the Philippines.

Khoo was speaking to reporters after giving a talk at the Leadership Forum of Razak School of Government titled, 'Multiculturalism in Malaysia: Are things as they should be' at Menara Prisma here Wednesday.

He was asked to comment on a report that the Philippine Government had hired a team of top lawyers to review the country's dormant claim over Sabah.

Debates over the Philippine Government and the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultanate's claim on Sabah had re-surfaced, following a recent incursion into Sabah's east coast.

According to Khoo, the so-called sultanate could not bring the case to the ICJ as it was not a sovereign nation.

Khoo said: "Sulu by itself, cannot take on Malaysia...it is difficult to go to the ICJ, unless Manila wants to help them.

"I'm not sure Sulu and Manila are able to work together (on the claim over Sabah). They have never been able to work together."

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