More than 200 armed followers of Sultan Kiram are now in Sabah, Malaysia to stake their claim over the disputed territory. The Malaysian Forces have surrounded them and have cut off their food and water supply. The Malaysian Government has issued an ultimatum to the Filipinos involved in the standoff to leave the area on Feb. 26 or they will be disarmed and deported back to the Philippines.
Pres. Noynoy Aquino has ordered the Sultan to issue the directive to his followers to leave Sabah and return to the Philippines immediately to avoid bloodshed but the Sultan has refused. Instead of telling his supporters to back-off and retreat, Sultan Kiram issued an order to stay and defend their claim to their land at all costs. What is this Sabah dispute? What is the real story behind this territorial claim?
"Sabah, state of Malaysia, together with the state of Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan, makes up East Malaysia. Prior to 1963, Sabah was the British Crown Colony of North Borneo. It covers and area of 73,620 sq. km. (28,425 sq. mi.) with a coastline of about 1,450 km. (900 mi.).
The region came under British control in 1877 when a British trading syndicate, called British North Borneo Company, under a royal charter granted in 1881, undertook administration of the region. When the Federation of Malaysia came into existence on September 16, 1963, British North Borneo, renamed Sabah, became a member state." (Source: Encarta 2009)
The claim of the Sultan of Sulu is based on several points: 1) That the Sultan of Brunei ceded North Borneo (Sabah) to the Sultan of Sulu in 1704. 2) That the Sultan of Sulu leased North Borneo (Sabah) to two representatives of a private British company (British North Borneo Company) in 1878. In the past (1968), the Philippine Government (under Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, a greedy SOB) has been claiming Sabah in behalf of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu which almost sparked an armed conflict between the two nations. Pres. Marcos probably wanted Sabah for himself. Lol.
Last Friday, Malaysian Commandos stormed the camp of the Royal Guards of the Sultanate of Sulu. According to the Sultan's relatives, 10 Filipinos died because of the attack and countless others were wounded but this cannot be confirmed since the Malaysian Government have refused entry to all media men. Malaysian Police did say that 2 Filipinos have died and 2 Malaysian Commandos have been killed after the assault. The Malaysian authorities said the troops of Sultan Kiram have surrendered and that the standoff is now over. The Sultan of Sulu however denied the report of surrender and said that they will continue to assert their claim on Sabah and will fight to the end!
All these reports are still sketchy and unconfirmed as all foreign and local media are not allowed to enter the disputed region. Although it is proven that Sabah belongs rightfully to the heirs of Sultan of Sulu, Malaysian Authorities will never give up Sabah because of its massive supply of timber, rubber, rattan, extensive mineral deposits of tin, antimony, diamonds, iron, sulfur and oil. Yup, you name it; Sabah has it! The Philippine Government is not interested in reviving its claim on Sabah dispite its vast resources because it doesn't want to engage in an armed conflict with Malaysia.
Besides, Sabah is owned by the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu hence; it is basically the "private property of Sultan Kiram". So here's the bottom line, Sabah is the private property of Sultan Kiram and his heirs so its up to them to get it back....
Pres. Noynoy Aquino has ordered the Sultan to issue the directive to his followers to leave Sabah and return to the Philippines immediately to avoid bloodshed but the Sultan has refused. Instead of telling his supporters to back-off and retreat, Sultan Kiram issued an order to stay and defend their claim to their land at all costs. What is this Sabah dispute? What is the real story behind this territorial claim?
"Sabah, state of Malaysia, together with the state of Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan, makes up East Malaysia. Prior to 1963, Sabah was the British Crown Colony of North Borneo. It covers and area of 73,620 sq. km. (28,425 sq. mi.) with a coastline of about 1,450 km. (900 mi.).
The region came under British control in 1877 when a British trading syndicate, called British North Borneo Company, under a royal charter granted in 1881, undertook administration of the region. When the Federation of Malaysia came into existence on September 16, 1963, British North Borneo, renamed Sabah, became a member state." (Source: Encarta 2009)
The claim of the Sultan of Sulu is based on several points: 1) That the Sultan of Brunei ceded North Borneo (Sabah) to the Sultan of Sulu in 1704. 2) That the Sultan of Sulu leased North Borneo (Sabah) to two representatives of a private British company (British North Borneo Company) in 1878. In the past (1968), the Philippine Government (under Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos, a greedy SOB) has been claiming Sabah in behalf of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu which almost sparked an armed conflict between the two nations. Pres. Marcos probably wanted Sabah for himself. Lol.
Last Friday, Malaysian Commandos stormed the camp of the Royal Guards of the Sultanate of Sulu. According to the Sultan's relatives, 10 Filipinos died because of the attack and countless others were wounded but this cannot be confirmed since the Malaysian Government have refused entry to all media men. Malaysian Police did say that 2 Filipinos have died and 2 Malaysian Commandos have been killed after the assault. The Malaysian authorities said the troops of Sultan Kiram have surrendered and that the standoff is now over. The Sultan of Sulu however denied the report of surrender and said that they will continue to assert their claim on Sabah and will fight to the end!
All these reports are still sketchy and unconfirmed as all foreign and local media are not allowed to enter the disputed region. Although it is proven that Sabah belongs rightfully to the heirs of Sultan of Sulu, Malaysian Authorities will never give up Sabah because of its massive supply of timber, rubber, rattan, extensive mineral deposits of tin, antimony, diamonds, iron, sulfur and oil. Yup, you name it; Sabah has it! The Philippine Government is not interested in reviving its claim on Sabah dispite its vast resources because it doesn't want to engage in an armed conflict with Malaysia.
Besides, Sabah is owned by the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu hence; it is basically the "private property of Sultan Kiram". So here's the bottom line, Sabah is the private property of Sultan Kiram and his heirs so its up to them to get it back....
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