KUALA LUMPUR: The government is investigating whether there are Malaysians who have been helping the so-called heirs to the defunct Sulu Sultanate in their claims against Sabah and Malaysia.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Legal Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said revealed that there was a possibility of insiders aiding the "heirs", considering the fact that they have been making non-stop claims against the country overseas.
"Right now, we want to find out who exactly is involved, as there is the possibility that there is an 'inside game' going on... (there could be) a leak or actions that give a weird kind of 'strength' to this group (the claimants).
"I am investigating this. This is part of the investigation process, and we want to know what exactly is the source of these claims.
"If they had wanted to make such claims, it should have been a long time ago, when the 'payments' to them were stopped in 2013. Why do it only now?"
Azalina said this when asked to explain what sort of efforts are being made to deal with the Sulu group who seem to be getting bolder in filing claims in international arbitration courts.
The arbitration claims were made by a group of people claiming to be the heirs to the Sulu Sultanate, years after Malaysia stopped making annual payments of RM5,300.
The payments were stopped in 2013 after the self-declared "Sulu Sultan" launched an armed intrusion into Sabah at Lahad Datu.
On Feb 28, 2022, the arbitrator appointed by the claimants, a Spaniard by the name of Dr Gonzalo Stampa, awarded US$14.92 billion.
Stampa had made the award in the French courts despite the fact that the Spanish courts had thrown out his appointment earlier.
Later, the French courts suspended the award, meaning it cannot be enforced anywhere in the world, until it looked further into the case.
Despite this, the claimants managed to seize two Petronas assets in Azerbaijan in July 2022.
Malaysia, however, has since managed to set aside the French court decision.
Azalina is expected to soon fly to Europe to gather information on the issue as the claimants are still pursuing attempts to seize Malaysian assets in the continent.
Asked about the strategy the country will take, Azalina said she could not reveal this, but she needed to look into the differences in opinion about the way forward as well as differences in input and information that has been received.
"There are some senior government officers who have made some decisions on the affairs of the country and its sovereignty without consulting the cabinet.
"This sort of thing must be brought before the consideration of the cabinet. I believe this goes with the principle of shared responsibility and that of the responsibility of the cabinet to Parliament under Article 43(3) of the Federal Constitution."
Azalina warned Malaysians who may be in league with the Sulu group that they would not escape and could be charged for treason against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the punishment for which was death by hanging.
She said the Special Secretariat which had been formed on Feb 17 to look into the Sulu claims was now looking at what legal action can be taken and what strategies can be employed.
"The membership of the secretariat has also been expanded and now comprises representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Communications and Digital Ministry, the National Security Council, the Sabah attorney-general and legal experts," she said.
Asked why the matter had not been settled via diplomatic negotiations with the Philippines, she said this was because the Philippine government was not involved in the claims.
On whether there could be more claims, Azalina said this was a commercial action taken by the claimants which went against Malaysia's sovereignty.