Preservation of Sulu
Sultanate History and Rights by DD Krishna D. Kiram
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035615757316
The journey to Sabah of Datu Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram and his 235
followers, Part 1
This is reposted in memory of DATU RAJA MUDA AGBIMUDDIN KIRAM and the 235
FOLLOWERS, who showed their patriotic act during the 2013 Lahad Datu Stand-Off,
Sabah.
1st Series
Malaysia Mobilized
Its Mighty Thirteen BN Military Forces during the February-March 2013 Sabah
Stand-Off
Datu Raja Muda
Agbimuddin Kiram and his 235 followers’ journey from Simunul back home to Sabah
(North Borneo) on February 11, 2013 was a POVERTY DRIVEN JOURNEY and the HOPE
TO LIVE IN PEACE with the populace therein. It was delayed for a couple of
weeks in one of the islands in Tawi-Tawi as they still looked for boats to
transport them.
Their journey was
established on FIVE SIMPLE BASIC FACTS which Malaysia could have consider them
as humane as possible. Firstly, Malaysia would give consideration and
accommodation to their presence in respect to the 1939 British High Court’s
Recognition on the Sulu Sultanate’s proprietary rights. Secondly, it complied
the Mandates of the 1963 Manila Accord signed by Malaysia, Indonesia, and the
Philippines. Thirdly, Sabah (North Borneo) is an ancestral patrimony of the
Sultanate of Sulu and the Bangsa Suluk/Sug transferred to Malaysia by Great
Britain in 1963. Fourthly, the resolution to Malaysia’s claim of sovereign
ownership over Sabah (North Borneo) is still pending in the United nations. And
fifth, Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram hoped Malaysia continues to recognize the
bond of ancestral relations between the two peoples of North Borneo (Sabah) and
the Sulu Archipelago since time immemorial.
Datu Raja Muda
Agbimuddin Kiram’s 235 followers had an average age of 45 years. They arrived
at Tanduo, Lahad Datu, Eastern part of Sabah (North Borneo), at 1:30 in the
morning of February 26, 2013. He conveyed immediately their safe arrival to the
Sulu Sultanate Secretary-General, Abraham J. Idjirani. The journey’s story was
initially published by Ms. Arlyn Dela Cruz in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Their journey
rekindled the trip of some Datus from Sulu and their 1,500 followers in 1900.,
who hoped to establish residencies in Sandakan. Despite FOLLOWING the RULE OF
LAW of the British Colonial Authority in Sandakan by serving a notice to the
British Colonial Authority of their intention and desire to peacefully co-exist
with the inhabitants of North Borneo (Sabah), THEY WERE REFUSED and ORDERED to
return to Sulu.
History of 1900
repeat itself as Datu Raja Muda Agbimuddin and his 235 followers’ presence in
the disputed territory WAS ALSO JUDGED by the Malaysian law. Malaysia’s
arguments WERE NOT BALANCED with the PROS and CONS and STATUS of ITS CLAIM to
title of sovereignty over Sabah (North Borneo). Its arguments were INADMISSIBLE
and CONTINUED TO DEFY the 1947 UN Charter Resolution, the 1950 UN Resolution,
the 1939 British High Court’s Recognition, and the intent and spirit of the
joint-communique embodied in the 1963 Manila Accord mutually signed and issued
by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Their journey was the
IMPACT of ACUTE PROBLEM of ABJECT POVERTY affecting Sulu, Basilan and
Tawi-Tawi. In the journey, Datu Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram secretly brought
with him the copy of the 1939 Letters of Administration issued to late 32nd
Sultan Punjungan Kiram as Administrator of the Estate Territory of North Borneo
(Sabah) by C.F.C. Macaskie of the British Sessions Court of North Borneo in
Sandakan. The 1939 Letters of Administration EMBODIED the INVIOLABLE and
INHERENT RIGHTS and the BRITISH RECOGNITION of the PROPRIETARY RIGHTS, POWERS,
AUTHORITY and OWNERSHIP of the Sultan of Sulu and his heirs over NORTH BORNEO
(SABAH).
It was entrusted to
him by their late father, late 32nd Sultan Punjungan Kiram, as verbally decreed
and conveyed by his father’s 3rd wife, Hadja Hatidja Dawili Kiram, for him to
act as Administrator, safekeeper and guardian of the Estate Territory of North
Borneo (Sabah) in behalf of interests of the Bangsa Suluk/Sug and Filipino
people in general and all his other
twelve (12) siblings in particular.
The British High
Court recognition LEGALLY STIPULATED and RECOGNIZED the estate and proprietary
ownership over North Borneo (Sabah) of the Sulu Sultan and his co-heirs already
existed before Malaysia was established as a nation in 1963.
By being an heir to
the British Interests? Malaysia inherited the COURT'S RECOGNITION and DECISION
and IS LEGALLY BOUND and OBLIGED AS SUCCESSOR to the BRITISH LEASE INTEREST to
CONTINUE RENDERING the ANNUAL LEASE RENTAL PAYMENT to the HEIRS. The said
payment which the BRITISH and MALAYSIA
called it as CESSION MONEY TO BE PAID IN PERPETUITY WAS STOPPED in 2013
until now.
There was a HIGH RISK
HEAVIER THAN RAJA MUDA’S OWN FLESH and BLOOD to bring the Only Original Copy of
that 1939 Letters of Administration. However, his HUMANE CONCERN for the
WELL-BEINGS and SAFETY of the 235 followers PREVAILED and in case question and
misunderstanding of their presence may arise, Datu Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram
had a document to show and endorse it to the Malaysian Authority.
But the Malaysian
Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, treated HIS PRESENCE and the 235 followers as
INTRUDERS on Malaysia’s ALLEGED CLAIM TO TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY. President
Benigno “PNoy” Simeon Aquino III’s administration indirectly endorsed
Malaysia’s accusation thru an announcement issued from Malacanang. President
Aquino III also called them spoiler of peace as the 2013 Sabah Stand-Off
occurred coincidentally with the on-going peace talks between his
administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He also
questioned, quote: how can the Kiram acquired such a vast track of territory?
unquote.
The Sulu Sultanate
Spokesperson, Abraham J. Idjirani, reminded Malacanang thru a press briefing
covered by local and foreign media by citing late Senator Arturo M. Tolentino’s
declaration during the 18th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1968, quote:
the Federation of Malaysia acquired claims to sovereign rights t o Sabah (North
Borneo) thru the 1878 Lease Agreement, rights which were not those of a
sovereign but those of a lease transferred by Great Britain to Malaysia in
1963.
To be continued.
ON BEHALF OF
DATI RAJA MUDA
AGBIMUDDIN KIRAM
and THE 235 FOLLOWERS
as well as the Bangsa
Suluk/Sug People
Abraham J. Idjirani
February 16, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=252077649820212&id=114362470258398
Image by Wikimedia Commons, Cccefalon
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