KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 – Despite talk of “disengagement” of the Sulu army, the daughter of
Princess
Jacel Kiram is seen next to her father, former Sultan of Sulu Jamalul
Kiram III, in this file photo taken in Manila on February 26, 2013.
Jacel Kiram said in an ABS-CBN News report on March 12, 2013 that the
Kiram clan was still firm on its decision not to ‘surrender’ its claim
over Sabah. – Reuters picself-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said today that surrender is still not an option for her uncle Agbimuddin Kiram and his troops in Sabah.
Jacel Kiram said in an ABS-CBN News report here that while she hopes the latest attempt to settle the conflict amicably would result in a peaceful end to the violence, the Kiram clan was still firm on its decision not to “surrender” its claim over Sabah.
“We are firm in our stand that surrender is not acceptable,” she was quoted as saying in the online report.
Another uncle of Jacel’s, sultanate elder Bantilan Esmail Kiram II met with Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas yesterday to discuss the possibility of pulling the Kiram forces from Sabah and ending the month-long incursion.
Both Esmail and Roxas confirmed that their discussion had centred around “disengagement” of the Sultanate’s “royal army”, but would not elaborate on the matter.
Today, Roxas said he had conveyed several queries raised by Esmail to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and the latter has directed the Department of Foreign Affair (DFA) to relay them to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Personally, I am positive that what has been talked about is for the interest and protection of the Filipino people,” Jacel said in the ABS-CBN News report.
The Kiram family had called for a ceasefire last Thursday upon receiving reports that more of its gunmen were falling from battles with Malaysian forces but Putrajaya rejected the appeal.
But Najib, in an immediate reaction, told the invaders to surrender unconditionally or face death.
In another news report by Interaksyon, sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said that the consideration for “disengagement” had never been on the cards for the Kiram clan.
He reportedly said that it was Roxas who had unilaterally raised the option.
The report also quoted Jamalul’s wife Fatima Cecelia as agreeing with Idjirani and pointing out that the family had never thought of “disengagement” as they were aware this would be misconstrued as surrender.
Meanwhile, Interaksyon reported that according to Esmail’s son Abu Bakar in Sabah, he has been in touch with Agbimuddin and the “crown prince” had said that he is still alive, despite the deadly crackdown by Malaysian forces.
In the 7am phone conversation this morning, Agbimuddin had also reportedly said: “While you are negotiating there, we remain under fire, the fighting goes on.”
Malaysian security forces have been on a relentless search for the gunmen since the launch of Ops Daulat last Tuesday.
To date, 57 militants have been killed in gunfights.
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The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have recalled the five subpoenas they had served just hours earlier to top members of the Kiram clan over its probe on an alleged “conspiracy” behind the incursion in Sabah, the Manila Bulletin reported last night.
NBI agents had met with Jamalul Kiram III, his wife Fatima Cecilia, daughter Jacel, brother Esmail Kiram II and the Sultanate’s spokesman Abraham Idjirani at the self-proclaimed Sulu “Sultan’s” home in Manila yesterday but left and took with them the five subpoenas they had served earlier, the paper reported.
“There are no more subpoenas. He (Idjirani) will go there voluntarily,” Pastor “Boy” Saycon, a friend and counsellor to the sultan for 16 years, was quoted as saying.
Idjirani had volunteered to be questioned by the NBI at their office tomorrow, Saycon was reported to have said.
The pastor, who had accompanied the NBI agents to the Kiram home, also reportedly said there had been a “miscommunication” in serving the five subpoenas.
The investigators agreed to withdraw the subpoenas after Saycon worked out a deal with NBI top officials and the Kirams, the paper reported.
But according to Philippine media network ABS-CBN News’ report yesterday, the Kirams had already agreed to appear before the NBI later this week.
The network’s online report said Fatima confirmed that her daughter, Jacel, and Idjirani were summoned to appear before NBI’s Technical Investigation Division at 10am tomorrow, while she, her husband Jamalul and Esmail would face the NBI’s Anti-Organized Crime Division at 10am on Friday.
According to the report, Fatima said the family will abide by the subpoena, adding the Kiram clan was ready to reveal the truth.
The NBI had first subpoenaed Saycon, who is also secretary-general on the Council for Philippine Affairs.
Saycon had previously been reported to have accused Malacanang Palace of spreading false rumours regarding the alleged conspiracy behind the Kiram’s incursion in Sabah.
Philippine voters will elect on 18,053 positions, including senators, congressmen, representatives of political parties, local officials and local councilors.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino has personally canvassed with a hope that his team, the TeamPNoy, could win.
His team is formed by the Liberal Party, the Nationalist People's Coalition, Nacionalista Party, Akbayan Citizens' Action Party and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino Party.
Aquino has said recently that the Sabah incident was a conspiracy and the Malaysian government should exercise maximum restraint in dealing with the issue.
He suspected that the Sulu terrorists's intrusion in Sabah has obtained tacit consent from some members of the former government of the Philippines.
n addition, a news website has quoted sources as saying, the parent group of former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is attempting to undermine the status of Aquino before the midterm election and thus, the invasion was planned to pressure Aquino.
The purpose of the group is to control the Senate and House of Representatives before the 2016 Philippine Presidential Election to pass a resolution to pardon Arroyo.
If it is a political conspiracy and Aquino is unable to handle it well, his team might lose some votes.
Therefore, the conspiracy theory is not unfounded.
Pihak keselamatan negara percaya bahawa ketua kumpulan penceroboh dari Sulu iaitu Agbimuddin Kiram masih berada di Gugusan Labian, Lahad Datu, Sabah, kerana gagal meloloskan diri ke selatan Filipina akibat telah dikepung.
Menurut sumber keselamatan, pengikutnya dipercayai cuba melarikan Agbimuddin Kiram iaitu adik kepada Jamalul Kiram III itu, tetapi gagal berikutan kepungan ketat oleh pasukan keselamatan dari darat dan laut.
Agbimuddin Kiram yang menyusun taktikal perang kumpulan penceroboh terbabit dipercayai telah disembunyikan oleh pengikutnya bagi mengelak beliau daripada ditahan, cedera atau terbunuh jika bertempur dengan pasukan keselamatan.
Pasukan keselamatan kini semakin mara ke hadapan bagi mengecilkan lagi ruang kepungan di Kampung Sungai Nyamuk, Sungai Bilis dan Tanjung Batu Merah agar dapat menumpaskan semua saki-baki kumpulan penceroboh terbabit termasuk memburu Agbimuddin Kiram.
Penyertaan Sabah dalam gagasan atau pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963 menghapuskan sebarang tuntutan ke atas Sabah. Prof Madya Dr Bilcher Bala (UMS).
Pensyarah Sekolah Sains Sosial (Program Sejarah) itu berkata berdasarkan perkara itu sebarang tuntutan hak ke atas negeri Sabah ketika ini adalah terbatal.
"Tarikh penubuhan Malaysia pada tahun 1963 menghapuskan sebarang tuntutan ke atas Sabah dan pada tahun 1888, Sabah di bawah naungan kolonial British dan pada tahun 1903 protokol telah menetapkan jajahan Amerika Syarikat di Filipina tanpa Sabah.
"Pada tahun 1946, Sabah diserah kepada British dan jelas pada tahun 1963 Sabah berada dalam Malaysia," katanya kepada Bernama, di sini hari ini.
Justeru Dr Bilcher berkata, tindakan Jamarul Kiram III menyerang Sabah dengan alasan menuntut hak warisan Kesultanan Sulu adalah satu jenayah yang boleh disifatkan sebagai serangan pengganas.
Mengenai bayaran yang dibuat oleh kerajaan Malaysia terhadap waris Kesultanan Sulu, beliau berkata ia cuma pampasan atau saguhati perjanjian "sewa mati 1787" yang tertulis pajakan kekal.
"Maka pampasan itu dibayar sampai mati (istilah dalam perjanjian ‘selagi ada bulan dan bintang’)," katanya.
Mengupas kembali sejarah Sabah, Dr Bilcher berkata penduduk Sabah telah memilih Malaysia (pada tahun 1963) seperti yang terkandung dalam Laporan Cobbold.
“Cuma Sultan Sulu fikir orang Sabah adalah rakyatnya. Rakyat adalah pengakuan taat setia pengikut. Tapi orang Sabah tidak mengakui mereka ada sultan melainkan Gabenor (kini Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah).
"Justeru itu, tuntutan yang mendakwa dirinya sebagai pewaris Kesultanan ulu, jika ada sultan pun, ke atas Sabah adalah terbatal melalui beberapa peringkat perjanjian sebelum ini.
“Hakikatnya, Sulu tidak ada sebuah kerajaan atau negara yang membolehkan "ada hak" untuk membuat tuntutan. Tuntutan ini cuma tuntutan individu semata-mata, yang tidak melibatkan orang ramai, tetapi individu itu telah memperalatkan orang ramai untuk mencapai kepentingan dirinya sendiri,” katanya.
Oleh itu, Dr Bilcher berkata tindakan menyerang negara luar adalah jenayah dalaman negara Filipina dan jenayah antarabangsa di Malaysia.
"Melainkan jika individu itu memiliki kerakyatan Malaysia, maka ini adalah jenayah yang berat, setara ancaman Komunis dahulu atau pengganas,” katanya.
Di KUALA LUMPUR, semasa menjelaskan isu sama, bekas Menteri Luar Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar berkata bayaran AS$5,000 (RM15,500) setahun oleh kerajaan Malaysia kepada waris Kesultanan Sulu sehingga hari ini bukanlah wang sewaan atau pajakan tetapi merupakan satu bentuk wang penghargaan yang dikenali sebagai "cession".
Katanya beliau sendiri pernah melihat cek dengan jumlah tersebut dibayar kepada waris Kesultanan Sulu ketika menjadi Menteri Luar dari 1999 hingga 2008.
"Wang penghargaan atau cession berkenaan sama seperti duit penghargaan yang dibayar oleh kerajaan Pulau Pinang kepada Sultan Kedah apabila pulau itu diserahkan kepada British," jelas beliau kepada Bernama.
Menegaskan Kesultanan Sulu yang ada hari ini bukan kerajaan yang diiktiraf, Syed Hamid berkata, waris keluarga itu tidak layak membawa tuntutan Sabah ke Mahkamah Keadilan Antarangsa (ICJ).
"Ini kerana ICJ hanya menguruskan kes-kes yang melibatkan kerajaan yang sah. Kesultanan Sulu bukan satu kerajaan," katanya.
Syed Hamid berkata, kuasa pentadbiran dan politik yang ada pada Kesultanan Sulu dianggap berakhir apabila Sultan Jamalul Kiram II menandatangani Perjanjian Carpenter pada tahun 1915 dengan penjajah Filipina ketika itu iaitu Amerika.
Syed Hamid berkata cubaan menuntut Sabah pernah dibuat oleh Filipina ketika Malaysia dan Indonesia membawa masalah tuntutan pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan ke ICJ
pada tahun 2001.
"Filipina cuba untuk turut serta dalam tuntutan itu. Bagaimanapun ICJ terus menolak campur tangan Filipina dalam tuntutan Sipadan dan Ligitan yang terletak dalam perairan Sabah dengan alasan tuntutan itu tidak ada asas. Ini jelas menunjukkan, Filipina sama sekali tidak mempunyai hak ke atas negeri di bawah bayu itu," katanya.
Syed Hamid menegaskan Sabah merupakan wilayah Malaysia yang berdaulat kerana Suruhanjaya Cobbold yang ditubuhkan sebelum pembentukan Malaysia melaporkan
bahawa rakyat Sabah dan Sarawak mahu merdeka di dalam Malaysia.
Sementara itu, pakar sejarah Prof Dr Ramlah Adam menyatakan keyakinannya bahawa pihak kerajaan mempunyai dokumen perjanjian wang penghargaan tersebut.
"Kerajaan Malaysia memang menyimpan dokumen itu sebab selepas kita (kerajaan) ambil alih dari British kita ambil alih juga segala perjanjian itu sebab soal 'cession money' itu sangat penting," katanya.
Tambahnya, perjanjian itu menyatakan wang penghargaan akan diserahkan kepada waris bukannya kesultanan Sulu selagi 'ada bulan dan bintang'.
"Perjanjiannya adalah selagi ada bulan dan bintang, bukan ada tarikh, itu cara orang dulu buat perjanjian, saya tidak tengok perjanjian itu tetapi saya
tahu ada perjanjian.
"Ia (wang penghargaan) diberi kepada waris bukan kesultanan. Kesultanan Sulu telah tiada. Itu yang diperkatakan dalam sejarah Sulu. Semasa kita membuat sejarah Malaysia kita tidak pernah menyentuh tentang kerajaan Sulu ia termasuk dalam sejarah Filipina.
"Kita (Malaysia) tidak termasuk, kita hanya anggap ia sebagai kaum Suluk sahaja," katanya.
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