KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has consistently collaborated with the federal government to hold discussions and taken subsequent actions when dealing with parties claiming to be heirs of the Sulu Sultanate.

On Nov 6, 2023, it was reported that the French Court had annulled the order for the statutory mortgage made against the diplomatic building of Malaysia in Paris by claimants who asserted themselves as heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the Sabah state government and the federal government have never recognised the claimants asserting themselves as heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu.

"There is a special committee led by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, with members also including representatives from the Sabah state government such as the Attorney General of Sabah.

"It will continue to take active steps to strengthen the sovereignty of the country, especially concerning the state of Sabah," he said during a winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting here.

Hajiji's speech was read by Assistant Minister to Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir.

He also said the federal government has organised several symposiums and continued dialogues with stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, to provide information on these claims to ensure that international media does not misinterpret them.

"At the same time, the federal government has proposed the enactment of an act called the "Immunity Act," which is a law that protects the sovereignty of the country from any foreign claims."

Meanwhile, Hajiji said that the state government, through the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat (SSMJ), has formulated a special programme for the Hardcore Poor Household chiefs.

According to the eKasih system, there are 22,510 individuals categorised as hardcore poor.

In principle, Hajiji said the state government has allocated a total of RM175 million for the implementation of the Hardcore Poor Empowerment Programme in Sabah for 2024.

As for the policy requiring certification for all Sabah palm oil exports, a permanent secretariat known as the Sabah Jurisdictional Approach for Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative (JASPO) has been set up.

"JASPO has successfully passed the first stage towards achieving Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Jurisdictional Certification.

"At the same time, JASPO is also in the process of introducing legislation related to palm oil certification to be applied or integrated into the state's legal system."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/984570/sabah-continues-working-federal-govt-deal-sulu-sultanate-heirs