KUALA LUMPUR: The government has expressed its commitment to find the best strategy to resolve the issue on the claims by self-proclaimed Sulu heirs, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) said the government would ensure victory for the sake of national interest and to maintain the country’s sovereignty.
"The government is also confident that all actions and strategies that are being and will be implemented to deal with this issue will yield positive results with the support of all parties, especially Malaysians," he said in a statement Friday (Aug 5).
He said the task force set up to handle the matter had its first meeting on Wednesday (Aug 3), which among others, discussed legal action that had been taken by the Malaysian government in Spain and France to deal with the claim, as well as the issue on the payment of US$5,300 per year.
According to him, the “Final Award” issued by the Paris Arbitration Court on Feb 28 did not touch on the issue of the Sabah claim or the sovereignty of the state by the Sulu group.
Wan Junaidi said the task force also took note of the appointment of Dr Gondoza Stampa as arbitrator and all procedural actions taken by him had been revoked based on the decision of the High Court of Madrid, dated June 29, 2021.
"Based on the decision dated June 29, 2021, the High Court of Madrid ruled that the 'Partial Award on Jurisdiction' made on May 25, 2020 by Dr Stampa is null and void.
"The government has also submitted an application to revoke the Exequatur Order and subsequently an application to stay its enforcement.
"The government's application to stay enforcement of the Exequatur Order was allowed by the French Court on Dec 16, 2021," he said.
He said the government had also applied to revoke the “Final Award” issued by Dr Stampa on Feb 28 and to stay its enforcement in the French Court.
The French Court allowed the application for stay of execution last July 12, he added. - Bernama
