Professional Documents
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The Malaysian government is again posed to repatriate several thousand “illegal immigrants”
from Sabah to the Philippines this year. The words “repatriate and illegal immigrants” to me are
not fitting given that we have not abandoned our claim to that land north of Borneo.
I continue to believe that the Philippines have a legitimate claim to Sabah. The fact that Malaysia
is paying more than 7000 ringgits annually to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu until now, clearly
showed that they recognize who the rightful owners of Sabah are! How could they lay claim to a
territory when they are paying rent to Filipino citizens? You don’t have to be a lawyer to figure
out that this part of Borneo is legally our turf.
Over the years, several hundred thousand Filipinos were forced out of Sabah, but the present
dispensation have not dared to raise even a sigh of protest to this ruthless act against our
compatriots. I am not sure why our dear leaders would not dare to antagonize this nation. They
prefer to be bullied than asserting the rights of the affected Filipinos in exchange for what,
economic ties?
It is very clear that Sabah is very much part of our country and its history. It was once a part of
the mighty Sultanate of Sulu. Sabah was reportedly given as a “gift” by the ruler of Brunei to the
Sultan of Sulu after the latter helped suppress the rebellion in his kingdom. The lease agreement
between Sri Paduka Maulana A Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam and the British North Borneo
Company in 1878, for the latter to use Sabah in exchange for a yearly rent and some weapons,
showed that indeed, the territory is owned by the Sultanate of Sulu.
The Philippine’s claim over the land started on September 11, 1962 when then President
Diosdado Macapagal accepted the declaration of the Sultan of Sulu to surrender Sabah to the
Republic. By this declaration, the responsibility to regain control of the territory from the lessee
has been effectively transferred to the government of the Philippines. The declaration was made
during the time that Malaysia is not yet a sovereign nation, being under the British control.
Malaysia claimed that the 9 heirs of the sultan of Sulu had relinquished their claim over the
territory. In 1939, the heirs of the Sultan filed a civil suit against the British company, the lessee,
who continue to refuse to turn-over the land to them. During the same year, the court of North
Sabah ruled in favor of the heirs. If they claim that the 9 heirs had relinquished their claim to
Malaysia, they have been dead long time ago before Malaysia tasted the air of independence.
Then, who are these 9 heirs that Malaysia is referring to?
The original 9 who filed a civil suit against the British company were Dayang Dayang Hadji
Piandao and eight others including Putlih known in our history books as Princess Tarhata.
Therefore, if the heirs had rescinded their claim, it must be the living heirs, probably Sultan
Ismael Kiram II which is preposterous even if by all possibility he did it. The 1962 declaration
by the Sultan of Sulu in Malacanang that officially turned over the claim to the Philippine
Republic sealed the territorial entitlement over Sabah. Therefore, the current heirs cannot just
make any decision to withdraw the claim. Therefore, Malaysia’s assertion over Sabah is pathetic.
Their loyalty to their British masters have been well rewarded that even the leased land of their
master’s decided to turn over everything under their colony including the rented land of Sabah.
Malaysia’s decision to let every Filipinos out of Sabah is certainly part of their agenda to
completely get rid of any possible obstacle to their complete seizure of the territory. This will
strengthen their claim to the international court that the people living in that territory are
Malaysian citizens.
The Philippine government should make a move. We are thankful for Malaysia’s assistance in he
peace process in Mindanao and of course their investments, but that is out of the point. Our
indecisiveness on this issue would bring the same consequences to our other claimed territories.
Take note, we still have a claim on Spratleys where Malaysia is one of the five claimants.