KOTA KINABALU: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman has urged Philippines to cease its claim over Sabah, saying it would harm existing ties with Malaysia.
In expressing concern over the claim, the former Sungai Sibuga state assemblyman said there should be no dispute over Sabah being part of the Malaysian federation.
"Any claim by the Philippines or (by) any other party on Sabah should not be recognised and entertained.
"I urge the Philippines, including its Foreign Minister, to stop this type of narrative for its internal political purposes because it's not good for bilateral relations within Asean member countries," he said in a statement today.
In the recent High Court case of Government of Malaysia v Nurhima Kiram Fornan & Ors (2020), Musa noted Judge Martin Idang's decision makes it clear that Sabah is part of Malaysia and no other nation has any right or power over Sabah's affairs.
"So, let me once again clearly state that we do not recognise or acknowledge any claim by the Philippines on Sabah. Sabah is part of Malaysia and has chosen to be and would continue to be a part of the sovereign nation since the state became party to its formation.
"The people in Sabah chose to be in the state because it is in Malaysia. We have been enjoying peace, stability and economic prosperity within Malaysia," he said.
In the past, the state government during Musa's administration had vehemently rejected claims over Sabah made by Philippines and the heirs of Sulu Sultanate.
Musa, who is now facing re-election, was Sabah Chief Minister from 2003 to 2018.
According to June 2 news report by the Sabah based Daily Express, eight of the supposed descendants of the Sultan of Sulu had on July 30, 2019, commenced ad hoc arbitration proceedings in Spain against the Malaysian government.
The purported heirs obtained an order from the Superior Court of Justice in Madrid to appoint a sole arbitrator to decide the dispute (the Spanish Arbitration) – concerning the 1878 Deed of Cession between the then Sultan of Sulu, Baron Overbeck of Austria and Alfred Dent.
Idang held that the High Court in Malaysia was the proper venue to resolve disputes arising from the 1878 Deed of Cession and not the Spanish courts which do not have authority or jurisdiction over Malaysia.
The Judge said this when deciding in favour of the Government of Malaysia in its suit against eight of the supposed descendants of the Sultan of Sulu at the Kota Kinabalu High Court on March 17 this year.
Recently, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr triggered concern after he took to social media, tweeting "Sabah is not in Malaysia" when responding to tweet by the Embassy of the United States in Manila on its relief aid to the returning Filipino repatriates from Sabah.
This prompted Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to rebuke Locsin's controversial tweet, describing such statement as irresponsible and detrimental to the Malaysia-Philippines diplomatic ties.