Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Who is Datu Agbimudin Kiram, former Sabah officer?

Posted to the Malaysian Chronicle (Mar 21): Who is Datu Agbimudin Kiram, former Sabah officer?

KUALA LUMPUR - The discovery of a government document listing a certain "Datu Agbimudin Kiram" as having been employed at the Kudat District Office in Sabah, in 1974, has raised a poser about whether he is the same man who is leading the armed invasion in Lahad Datu.

Pakatan Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the discovery was made following a tip-off from local residents in Kudat, based on photographs of Agbimudin Kiram, brother of the Sulu chieftain Jamalul Kiram.

Rafizi particularly referred to a family photograph of Agbimudin and Jamalul Kiram, as published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently.

"The initial information we received indicates that he (Agbimudin) had once worked at the Kudat district office and that he is a Malaysian citizen," said Rafizi during a joint press conference with PKR deputy secretary-general Darell Leiking, at the party headquarters today.

"We talked to a few people (in Kudat) and their stories have been consistent. So we decided that we need to find documented evidence," he said.

Rafizi said Darell searched the Sabah state archives on Monday and found that one "Datu Agbimudin Kiram" (born Sept 9, 1941) was listed as a pegawai pentadbir muda (junior administrative officer) in the Kudat district office, beginning March 1, 1974, with a starting salary of RM610.

Meanwhile, in Manila, a spokesman for Jamalul confirmed that Agbimudin had served as assistant district officer in Kudat.

Abraham Idjirani said Agbimudin's wife had worked at the public hospital during that time, Philippine news portal Interaksyon reported.

He said the Kirams were in residency in Sabah after the Jabidah massacre of 1968.

He, however, denied that Agbimuddin was a Malaysian citizen and that he had been given a Malaysian identity card.

Rafizi and Darrel urged the authorities to verify Agbimudin's identity, after allegations that Pakatan Rakyat was the mastermind behind the intrusion.

Apparently, Agbimudin was a "familiar face" in Kudat at the time due to his position, equivalent to an assistant district officer in the peninsula.

Rafizi also stated that Agbimudin's position in the state government was under the direct appointment of the Sabah chief minister.
-thesundaily

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=72361:who-is-datu-agbimudin-kiram-former-sabah-officer?&Itemid=2

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