'Malaysia trying to undermine sultan followers' claim over Sabah'

From the Philippine Star (Apr 1): 'Malaysia trying to undermine sultan followers' claim over Sabah'

Malaysia's move to label the followers of Sulu sultanate as terrorists is a ploy to undermine the latter's claim over Sabah, a lawmaker representing Sulu province said on Monday.

Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong said Malaysia's action to call the sultan followers as terrorists seek to counter any international sympathy for the group and the latter's claim over Sabah.

Agbimuddin Kiram, younger brother of Sulu sultanate Jamalul Kiram III, with more than 200 followers, many of them unarmed, in February went to Lahad Datu to claim ownership over resource-rich Sabah. Agbimuddin is on the run following a standoff that sparked offensives between the sultan followers and the Malaysian security forces.

“That’s the only way for Malaysian authorities to [undermine] the legitimate claim of the Sulu sultanate. They (Sulu sultanate followers) were called terrorists because a terrorist group is an organization that is an enemy of all nations...,” Loong said.

Loong, however, said the international community has been prudent and has refused to accept the terrorist label given to sultan followers, citing that even the United Nations has called for a halt to the hostilities.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/04/01/925775/malaysia-trying-undermine-sultan-followers-claim-over-sabah