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Published: Wednesday March 13, 2013 MYT 7:51:00 PM

Lahad Datu: “We respect Sabah’s decision to join Malaysia," says MNLF chief


JOHOR BARU: The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) recognises and respects the decision taken by the people of Sabah to join Malaysia in 1963, says chairman Muslimin Sema.

The Sabah people, he said, had the right to determine their own destiny by joining Malaysia, 50 years ago, and that right should not be disputed by any quarters.

"We (the MNLF) recognised the desire of the Sabah people to decide and determine their own destiny.

“They have decided to join Malaysia and we accede to their desire, that is our position," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview via telephone from Manila on Wednesday.

The dovish Muslimin, who is currently the vice-mayor of Cotabato City in southern Philipines, said he had been to Sabah in 1973 and personally witnessed the happiness felt by the Sabahans, led by their leaders after joining Malaysia.

"They have decided and we accepted it," he said, adding that he still had many relatives in Sabah, who were loyal Malaysian citizens and earning a good and prosperous livelihood. - Bernama

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