A-G’s Chambers urged to expedite study on Sabah cession payment

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KOTA TINGGI: The Attorney-General’s Chambers has been asked to speed up a study on the cession payment of RM5,300 to the defunct Sultanate of Sulu for Sabah.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Dr Rais Yatim said the study should be carried out comprehensively to encompass international and conventional laws as to whether the payment might be finalised soonest.

“The Sultanate of Sulu ceased to be sovereign over Sabah in 1878 when it surrendered the territory to English merchants.

“In fact, in 1903 its power over North Borneo was ceded to the British which effectively ended their sovereignty (over Sabah) and thus we should no longer pay any tribute money to them.

“But the government continues to pay cession money or stipend to them on humanitarian grounds even though it should not be paid anymore.

“This is my opinion, but some people may not agree,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Cruising Sungai Johor Downriver’ event under the 1Malaysia Community Culturalisation Programme in Kampung Johor Lama here, yesterday.

He said at present there were nine branches of the royal family of Sulu and it was not certain who was the legitimate successor and sultan.

Rais said he had conducted research on the sultanate’s lineage when he was foreign minister.

“My ministry is willing to hold a roadshow to enlighten the people on the issue with the cooperation of the Sabah government in order to protect Malaysia’s sovereignty, he added. — Bernama