Sultanate vows indefinite struggle for Sabah

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 20): Sultanate vows indefinite struggle for Sabah

Whether Malaysia likes it or not, its Sabah problem is not about to ride into the sunset as the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo yesterday vowed to wage an indefinite struggle to repossess North Borneo.

As this developed, a new round of fighting between the Sultanate’s Royal Security Force (RSF) and Malaysian troops broke out for the second time in two days.

Abraham J. Idjirani, the Sultanate’s secretary-general and spokesman, said yesterday the new encounter occurred in Kampung Labbiyyaw, Lahad Datu, Sabah, between 7 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
 
On the other hand, a check on the websites of Malaysian news organizations on Tuesday and Wednesday morning showed that none had yet carried any news report on the sultanate’s claim of the new fighting.

The sultanate’s claim could not be verified independently.

However, Idjirani assured everyone that fresh encounters indeed took place after the May 5 General Election in Malaysia.

The firefight in Kampung Labbiyyaw came after Monday’s encounter between the two parties in Kampung Dangan Tunko, also in Lahad Datu, he said.

Idjirani told the Manila Bulletin that the Sultanate, through its heirs, at least from the late Sultan Punjungan Kiram’s lineage, is ready and committed to continue the struggle over Sabah.

“What is important is the Sultanate and its ‘raayat’ (constituents) are showing the Malaysian government and the democratic freedom-loving nations that the Sultanate of Sulu through its Royal Army and volunteers are exercising their strong determination to repossess Sabah from the illegal occupation of the neo-colonialist Malaysia,” he said.

The Sultanate is determined to prolong its struggle to claim back from the Muslim country what is historically a part of its territory, he added.

From the Punjungan Kiram clan, Idjirani said there are still eight surviving siblings, eight men and two women, led by Sultan Jamalul, plus their children and grandchildren who are expected to carry on the struggle.

“It is not going to end until Malaysia’s ‘illegal’ annexation of North Borneo is withdrawn and the territory repossessed by the sultanate,” said Idjirani.

In the two new rounds of fighting, no casualty figure was relayed by Idjirani’s source, Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who continues to stake the sultanate’s ancestral claim over the rich territory.

Another source, Habib Mujahab “Bogs” Hashim, who chairs the Islamic Command Council, one of the factions of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF-ICC), also relayed having received information about the second round of fighting.

“My source who is a ‘Bangsa Suluk’ (of the Tausug Nation) in Lahad Datu told me of the new fighting on Tuesday evening,” said Hashim.

Asked if he believes an indefinite struggle over Sabah is possible, he said “yes.”

“The sultanate’s heirs and raayat are not going to let if go unless Malaysia agrees to settle this problem peacefully for the benefit of the Bangsa Suluk,” said Hashim.

He promised to call again today (Wednesday) after confirming if there were any casualties, the MNLF senior leader said.

“I expect some casualties because bullets do not excuse anyone,” Hashim said.

Hashim said his source is already a citizen of Sabah, a member of the MNLF.

Meanwhile, the credibility of the sultanate of Sulu is apparently at record low since Malacañang is having doubts about anything it says.

The government is not immediately buying the claim of the Sulu sultanate of renewed fighting with Malaysian forces in Sabah given its history of allegedly peddling lies in the past, according to a Palace official.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang said the Palace prefers to verify such report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rather than believe the sultanate’s spokesman right away.

“What they said in the past has turned out not to be true. I will not immediately believe any claim that’s not backed up by any evidence,” Carandang said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin. “We will check the report with the DFA,” he added.

Carandang said the government earlier received information that the Lahad Datu has been cleared of the remnants of the Sultanate’s armed followers following a standoff in the area last February.

A crisis erupted in Sabah last February when armed followers of Kiram seized control of Lahad Datu to press their historic claim over the oil-rich territory.

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