The Catholic priest who almost made it possible for Sabah to secede from Malaysia Federation

Historiana: The Catholic priest* in Sabah who was at the forefront of an independent Sabah 

In 1990, Benjamin Basintal (in picture), a Catholic priest led a 'revolution' from within Sabah. 

Basintal was linked to a Sabah secession plot in 1990. He went missing during that year detained under Kuala Lumpur's dreaded Internal Security Act (ISA) and possibly tortured. He had been hounded and harassed continuously by Kuala Lumpur agents. The loss of Barisan Nasional in the 1990 election and the victory of Christian-dominated PBS, the Sabah political party much hated by Mahathir, was attributed to his disappearance.

Benjamin Basintal was not your typical Catholic missionary priest. He was vocal about denouncing the inequities in Sabah, the corruption of its politicians and the greed and injustice of Kuala Lumpur.

According to his relatives, Benjamin saw Sabah "with its abundant natural resources on one side and many of its people abjectly poor on the other side was a gapping wound. The state’s wealth that could help lift them out of the poverty trap was instead paying for vanity projects elsewhere in Malaysia and this was an affront to him."

Basintal left for the United States soon after his release by Kuala Lumpur's ISA. How he got to leave Sabah remains a mystery. He studied journalism and went into teaching when he returned to Sabah.

Benjamin Basintal died of organ failure last month, a few weeks away from the Sabah elections.

*NB: What most Filipinos don't know is that Sabah used to be predominantly Christian until Mahathir imported Muslim would-be voters from Indonesia and the Philippines, a project he hatched from the time he came to power in 1981 and executed for a number of years until he retired from politics in 2003. Mahathir exported Bumiputra Malayans from Peninsular Malaysia with wads of cash (I kid thee not) and promises of a good life for them if they stayed and lived in Sabah, and of course, they had to vote Barisan Nasional or BN (Mahathir's party and Najib's party today.) Sabah had to be "de-Christianised" so to speak.

Mahathir was still flooding Sabah with Bumiputras from Peninsular Malaysia while I was living in Kuala Lumpur in the 90s. I also remember too well the stories surrounding the trial of the owner and publisher of the Borneo Mail which first bannered the disappearance of Basintal. Borneo Mail's owner was charged and tried under the Printing Presses and Publications Act a charge which still carries today, a penalty of three years jail or a fine of 20,000 Malaysian ringgits or both.

~~ By Anne de Bretagne
for the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah & Spratly Claims 
30 April 2013

To read about Benjamin Basintal:  The Incident that changed Sabah 

Link to Benjamin Basintal blog www.mrbensblog-antidot.blogspot.com

Why is PH Secretary of National Defence Gazmin silent on his Malaysian counterpart's claim that PH Navy killed 35 Filipinos going to Sabah?

A MATTER OF NATIONAL HONOUR OR WHAT IS LEFT OF IT

LATEST ON 35 DEAD: THE STORY IS BECOMING MORE SORDID EVERY MINUTE DESPITE PH NAVY DENIAL - WHAT IS PH GOVT DOING TO SHUT UP MALAYSIANS?

April, 29, 2013 - 6:32 pm: Sabah police back Malaysia defence minister Zahid Hamidi’s claim that Philippine Navy shot dead 35 alleged "intruders" going to Sabah (implying that PH Navy killed the Filipinos as a service to Malaysia Govt.)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police chief Hamza Taib has insisted that Malaysian intelligence reports have confirmed that 35 alleged intruders had been shot dead by the Philippine navy before they landed on Sabah soil.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police chief Hamza Taib has insisted that Malaysian intelligence reports have confirmed that 35 alleged intruders had been shot dead by the Philippine navy before they landed on Sabah soil. 

Link to news article: Sabah police backs Zahid Hamidi claim that PH Navy killed 35 Filipinos going to Sabah

So, where are we today on the 35 or 10 dead/killed by Malaysian Navy and dumped in Philippine waters if we are to believe the Sulu Sultanate spokesman?

Earlier on, the news that 35 Sulu fighters had been killed by the Philippine Navy was denied by the Sultanate. Upon closer investigation, and thanks to the efforts of Admin Marlene Damolo Howe of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum to shed light on the very confusing and conflicting reports, we finally learned that people had indeed been killed.

Admin Marlene was told by no less than the Sulu Sultanate spokesman that reports have it that indeed there had been killings and those killed were civilians but that they were killed by the Malaysian Navy with the bodies dumped in Philippine waters, an action which, according to the Sultanate spokesperson, was done to implicate the Philippine Navy.

I just got off the phone with the Sulu Sultanate's spokesperson, Abe Idjirani. He said that whatever was reported on the paper regarding the 35 DEAD SULTANATE FOLLOWERS IS NOT TRUE! The Sulu Sultanate denied it and the Philippine Navy denied it. Why can't the Malaysian government stop lying?  

They are so hell bent in their propaganda that they think the world will be easily manipulated with constant LIES AND FALSE CLAIMS. What happened was that 10 civilians who have been living in Sabah for many years were suspected as Sulu Sultanate sympathizers.  

The Malaysian militants rounded them up and took them to the Philippine territorial waters to IMPLICATE THE PHILIPPINE NAVY AS THE ONES DOING THE KILLING. BUT THE FACT IS, IT WAS THE MALAYSIAN MILITANTS WHO KILLED CIVILIAN PEOPLE AND DUMPED THEM IN OUR WATERS SO THE WORLD WILL THINK OUR PHILIPPINE NAVY KILLED THEM.  

There was a witness who came forward and reported it to the RSF (Royal Security Forces) who then reported back to the Sulu Sultanate. This story corroborated the previous post I made yesterday after I talked to a member of the Royal family.  

I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT TRUE! THERE IS NO 35 DEAD BUT 10 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED BY MALAYSIAN FORCES TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE SULTANATE SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS AND THEREFORE, COVER UP THEIR INABILITY TO MATCH THE SKILLS OF OUR TAUSUG WARRIORS. WORST, THEY TRIED TO IMPLICATE OUR OWN PHILIPPINE NAVY. IT'S A DEVIOUS AND HARAM ACT BY ILLEGAL INTRUDERS, MALAYSIA!  

This ongoing human rights violation by Malaysia should not go unnoticed. Our people are being tortured and slaughtered and the world stood by. Worst, our own president is standing by, doing nothing!

~~ Admin Marlene, Philippine Sabah Claim Forum 27 April 2013  

Remember that at the beginning of these confusing reports, on 24 April to be precise, Malaysian defence minister himself had implied that PH Navy had done it as some kind of a 'favour', a 'service' to the Malaysian Govt to prevent possible disruption of their May 5th elections. In fact Hamidi, at a press conference on 24th April in George Town thanked:

Malaysia's Zahid Hamidi

"... the Philippine Armed Forces, particularly the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard which had given close cooperation to the Malaysian government, particularly the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)."

So where are we at today? There were people who were killed, so we were told. Malaysia's defence minister placed it at the door of the Philippine Navy. He is implicating the Philippine Navy for the death of 35 Filipinos alleging that those killed were going to Sabah to disrupt Malaysian elections in Sabah scheduled on 5th May. 

There are dead people; a Malaysian minister implying that PH Navy had done Malaysia government a favour; virtual accusations of complicity proferred against the Navy by the same minister... yet, if not true, why has our government - rank to rank - not deemed it fit not to protest against the lies?

Shall we, again just look down in abject surrender while the direct assault on the already tattered integrity of our nation's navy? Could Malaysian defence minister's intel reports be true? 

Philipppines' Gazmin

There is no need to wage war against Malaysia but there is a need to seek the truth about who died and why they died, and perhaps, we may just raise ourselves from the abject position that Malaysian officials have pushed us in.

The task of belying Zahid Hamidi's - and Sabah police chief's - declaration that our Navy had killed Filipinos as a favour to Malaysian Govt falls on the shoulders of the former Commanding General of the President Security Battalion, a veteran of the Mindanao campaigns who later on became Commanding General of the Philippine Army and who now happens to be the top man at the department of national defence of the Republic... 

Yes, PH Secretary of Defense Voltaire 'Voltz' Gazmin must come out to either admit that the Philippine Navy had done it or to tell his Malaysian counterpart that what he says is a lie. Will he do it?

~~ AdB
For the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
29 April 2013

Discussion going on at Philippine Sabah Claim Forum 

Link to news article: Sabah Police backs Malaysia Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi that PH Navy killed 35 Filipinos from Sulu going to Sabah to disrupt Sabah elections

Related posts: 

• Malaysia defence minister Zahid Hamidi insists that PH Navy killed 35 Filipinos going to Sabah 
• But what does stupid Zahid Hamidi gain by lying brazenly that PH Navy killed 35 Filipinos as a service to Malaysia Govt
• Malaysia defence minister Zahid Hamidi claims PH Navy shot dead 35 Filipinos going to Sabah 

Defenders of Philippine sovereignty rare photo; Malaysia defence minister claims PH Navy, Coast Guard killed Sulu militants

These men are members of the Royal Security Force who travelled with Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin to Sabah... Where are they? What happened to them? Are they still alive? We would like to know. According to one of the Defenders community members, some of these brave Sulu warriors have since been killed by the murdering Malaysian troops during the Sabah stand off.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO - INQUIRER: Members of the Royal Security Force of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo who have traveled with Crown Prince Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram in what the descendants of the Sultan of Sulu describe as not an act of aggression against Sabah but a journey back to their homeland. Malaysian police and special forces surround the “royal army,” asking them to return home. Read more in the Inquirer:  Royal Army to fight on; will make last stand - Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo 

Meanwhile, Sultanate spokesman said in a recent report that a good number of Sulu fighters out to rescue beleaguered Filipinos in Sabah have managed to slip through joint PH Navy and Malaysia Navy blockade and have arrived in Sabah but so far, no news of any alarming 'activity' happening in Sabah itself has passed through the tight media blockade set up in Sabah by Kuala Lumpur defence and home ministry officials. Neither have we heard from PH Govt side. 

The Malaysian media seem to be in the dark as well and have been basing their own news reports on PH media releases but with a slight twist saying that the Sultanate Army en route for Sabah were on mission to disrupt Sabah elections on 5 May....

April, 24, 2013 - 7:01 pmKirams expects fresh clashes after polls – ReportKOTA KINABALU: The Sulu Kiram clan expects clashes with defence forces in Sabah to resume soon, noting that Datuk Seri Najib Razak is afraid of offending the state’s Suluk population in view of the May 5 general election, a Philippines daily reported Wednesday.  

The Philippine Star quoted Kiram clan spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying that clashes will resume soon after some 1,000 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters allegedly land in Sabah to reinforce the sultanate’s forces in Lahad Datu.  

“At the moment, the Malaysians are very busy with their upcoming election and do not want to disturb Sabah where there are more than 600,000 Bangsa Suluk residents and voters,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.  

Idjirani said the Bangsa Suluks in Sabah have kept strong ties with the people of Sulu.  

“Prime Minister Najib (Razak) is afraid of offending them,” he said. “It might cost him votes.”  

Idjirani added the Sulu commander in Lahad Datu, Agbimuddin Kiram, confirmed the arrival of the fully-armed MNLF fighters who have brought anti-tank weapons but said they have yet to link up.
Agbimuddin’s men remain mobile and continue to evade Malaysian security forces, he added.  

“They have taken positions away from Kampung Tanduo and Tanjung Batu,” Idjirani said.  

Hajib Mujaha Hashim, MNLF Islamic Command Council chairman, said the MNLF fighters are seasoned guerrillas.  

“They are experienced in guerilla warfare,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

And as if on cue, earlier on Thursday 25 April, Malaysian media bannered that 35 Sulu militatnts attempting to cross to Sabah were shot dead by Philippine Navy and Coast Guard.

The Malaysian news report was immediately denied by the Sultanate of Sulu spokesperson: Malaysian report, a complete lie

Published: April 25, 2013 by Edd Usmann for the Manila Bulletin"That is a complete lie, a fabrication!"  

The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (SSNB) made this strong statement on Thursday, denying and rejecting a news report in a Malaysian newspaper that said that Philippine Navy and Coast Guard personnel killed 35 Suluk (Tausug) militants on Wednesday trying to get into Sabah.  

"We are denying that because no one is going there in Sabah because of the election there," sultanate spokesman Idjirani said on Thursday.  

"If that is true, then the news will quickly spread like wildfire," he said. 

According to Idjirani, the last time people from Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan went to Sabah was over two weeks ago referring to the 1,000 or so members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who volunteered to help the sultanate's Royal Security Force (RSF).  

"My wife and I were in Sulu on Wednesday. We did not hear anything. We arrived in Manila only in the evening," said Idjirani. He said the sultanate has no plans to disrupt the 13th General Elections (GE13) of Malaysia, saying "We  are not involved in the election there, and we are not with the Malaysian opposition."  

He accused Malaysian Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaid Hamidi of "lying and fabricating reports" about the supposed 35 slain Suluk militants.  

Hamidi's statement came out on Thursday in the online edition of the The Star, citing an "intelligence report" that reportedly said the Suluk men wanted to disrupt the election.   

The Malaysian official said the Suluk men were shot by Filipino soldiers after they refused to turn back, but were still in Philippine waters.  

.../...
Idjirani said in Sabah (formerly North Borneo), there are over 600,000 Suluk people who are eligible voters because they have the identification cards (IC) called "Mahathir MyKad" issued in the past by the government. 

The Philippine Navy has also denied the killing of the 35 Sulu militants 

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - The Philippine Navy on Thursday, April 25, denied that navy personnel shot and killed 35 "militants" trying to enter Malaysia.The Navy said there is no such report coming from the Tawi-Tawi naval task force commander, contradicting reports released by the Malaysian press earlier in the day. 

"We have contacted our naval task force commander based in Tawi-Tawi and he said that there is no such report that has come to his attention," said Col Edgardo Arevalo, Navy spokesperson on West Philippine Sea matters. 

Reports in Malaysian media said the 35 militants came from Sulu, and were killed by personnel from the Philippine naval and coast guard forces.

The militants were shot before they entered Malaysian territory, The Star newspaper in Malaysia reported Thursday, April 25, quoting Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who spoke in a press conference in George Town, Malaysia.

The Star, quoting Hamidi, said the group was attempting to enter Sabah to "cause problems" during the Malaysian general elections.

On this latest Malayasia defence minister Hamidi caper that the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard killed 35 Sulu warriors en route for Sabah to rescue beleagured Filipino fighters:

We think it is a lie! We think that Minister Hamidi's (in picture) declaration is aimed at discrediting the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard to enrage the people of Sulu against the Navy and the Coast Guard hoping to stir a potential armed conflict in Sulu thereby taking the heat of fighting away from Sabah. We also think that Zahidi is lying so that his political party in Malaysia, i.e., National Front/Barisan Nasional, could consolidate a sure win in the forthcoming Sabah general elections...

In any case, altogether, the news that matters to us is about the Sulu fighters who have infiltrated Sabah - there is a saying: 'No bad news is good news.' So we shall wait and see. We wish our brave Sulu fighters good fortune...

~ By Admins, Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
25 April 2013

Fake Sultan Fuad Kiram signs Kiram family unity agreement using his real title: Datu Fuad A. Kiram

FUAD KIRAM SIGNED THE 'UNITY' AGREEMENT WITH HIS REAL TITLE, DATU!

The recent Sabah stand-off brought out some truth that many of us did not know or expect. First, we did not know the relation between the Cojuangcos (PNOY's family) and Malaysia dating back to the time of then Senator Ninoy Aquino (PNOY's father). Then we discovered to our dismay that our president would rather go back on his sworn duty to protect this country and its people just to protect his KKK's business interests and to protect his parents' legacy, right or wrong. 

It is disheartening to know that our president stands by while our people are being hunted down, tortured and killed for asserting their lawful right. Listening to our president colluding with the enemy and echoing Malaysia's Razak Najib's sentiments are not only disheartening but also disconcerting. Added to the Sulu Sultanate's dilemma is the disunity of the Kiram heirs. 

One of them, the infamous Datu Fuad has been defrauding people in and out of Facebook under the wing of his Con-Artist handler, the Master Puppeteer, Omar "FAKE" Kiram who is not even a Muslim by birth but who is an Ilonggo and is never a Kiram. Omar is peddler of FAKE or knock-off designer bags and accessories who met Datu Fuad by chance. Being a Con-Artist, Omar saw an opportunity for a money-making scheme using a Royal title albeit FAKE. Read the attached file I previously wrote with compelling proof to back up my claim. 

Fast forward to the recent development brought on by the stand-off. The Kiram heirs decided to unite and rally behind the REAL Sultan of Sulu who was proclaimed Sultan by the Ruma Bechara in a public ceremony in Sulu unlike the UNDIGNIFIED self-proclamation of Datu Fuad in a basketball court in Taguig. Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Kiram III (SJK) is the only one recognized as the true Sultan by both the Philippine and Malaysian government when Malaysia first attempted to buy off Sabah from the Sulu Sultanate during the administration of Pres. Cory Aquino and then Pres. Fidel Ramos up to the administration of Pres Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

The administration of PNOY may not recognize SJK because he claimed ignorance of the issue at pinag-aaralan pa daw niya. I wonder why Sec. Lila De Lima's findings of the Sultanate were not even posted. Could it be that it only proves the Sulu Sultanate's case and it is a humiliating truth for PNOY? The rest of the Kiram heirs have signed that settlement agreement to drop the claim on Sabah EXCEPT for Sultan Jamalul who could not with his heart and soul, sell the legacy of his people. He declined the money and this is where we are now. 

The attached document showed that Datu Fuad signed with his TRUE AND ONLY legal Royal title and that is as a DATU. FUAD ALSO ASKED THE HEIRS FOR MONEY BECAUSE ACCORDING TO HIM HE IS HEAVILY INDEBTED TO HIS FINANCIERS. Check out his signature and see for yourself. THIS IS NOT A FABRICATION like what his handler Omar has been posting in their fraudulent website where pictures are photo ops (like the ones with Nur Misuari who happened to oblige to a meeting request by Fuad and Omar) and all other documents FABRICATED to defraud people. I will post some more of the documents soon.

The documents I posted on the files I wrote are AUTHENTIC and these are not fabricated! This is why I challenged the FAKE Royals to sue me to see who is lying. But of course, they threatened but they never do because they know that they will be UNMASKED and their money-making scheme will be stopped. In the court of law, what matters is what you can prove. 

I DON'T CLAIM ANYTHING UNLESS I CAN PROVE IT! So for the charlatans out there and the attack dogs sent to intimidate me and any of us, what we say about you is ALL TRUE. NEMO NOS IMPUNE LACESSIT! 

~~ Lioness of Sabah
For the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum
23 April 2013

NB: Also posted on Philippine Sabah Claim Forum.

Related post: Who are fake sultan Fuad Kiram and fake prince Omar Kiram?

Sabah may just be the next Mindanao! Heaven help Kuala Lumpur!

THE WEAPONS OF THE SULTANATE ARMY found at the area where a stand-off between Malaysian security forces and so-called Filipino gunmen took place, at Tanduo village in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

To combat the Filipinos armed with these 'weapons', Malaysia deployed 7 battalions of troops (close to 7,000) accompanied by heavy artillery including fighter aircraft - all against 230 Tausug 'excursionists' in Sabah - but Malaysia armies have not managed to take down the Tausgus despite their rather primitive weaponry.

Malaysia's armies have a lot to learn before they could even begin to possess the fighting prowess of these Filipino fighters.

In fact, so good are these Filipino fighters of Tausug ethnicity that Sabah may just be the next Mindanao! If that happens, heaven help Kuala Lumpur!

Link to weapons photo (AP): Sabah crisis 

Relate post: Sabah stand-off: First time inexperienced Malaysia armies have taste of battle

Malaysia could very well occupy Turtle Islands and say turtles had referendum to join Kuala Lumpur

WATCH OUT! The Malaysians might occupy the Turtle Islands off Tawi-Tawi too and then one day, will claim that it's theirs because the turtles held a referendum to join Kuala Lumpur.

Najib and his fellow gangsters are capable of this kind of thing. Sadly, President Aquino believes with all his heart that Najib is an honourable man.

In Picture: Diosdado Macapagal raises the Philippine flag at Turtle Islands (post courtesy of Filipina Maharlika of the Philippine Sabah Claim Forum)

Atty. Diosdado Macapagal got his first break as a public figure in 1948 when Vice President Quirino, then concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs, appointed him as Assistant Chief of its Law Division and assigned him to negotiate the return of the administration of the Turtle Islands from the United Kingdom to the Philippines. He succeeded and [Vice President] Quirino gave him the privilege of raising the Philippine flag over the islands... .

(Thanks to Presidential Museum and Library ).
Reposted from: Paolo Paddeu

=======

For info about Turtle Islands Tawi-Tawi: Philippine Turtle Islands, Tawi Tawi

Rest in peace, Brave Tausug Warrior...

Killed by foreign troops in Tanduo, Sabah, March 2013 

Rest in peace, Brave Tausug Warrior...

To your assassins, we say, "Je ne te quitterai point que je ne t'aie vu pendu."

~ Nemo nos impune lacessit

 

 

Photo from: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20130312-407943.html

President Aquino, what will you say to an orphaned child whose parents were killed by Malaysian troops?

President Aquino, what have you done to protect and defend your people in Sabah?

Mr President, these people who are being chased like animals out of Sabah, their homeland, by Malaysians are your people too. They are Filipinos and warrant the protection and defence of the Republic.

Grim news: Malaysia subjects the Tausugs to further indignities...has PH Government found out whose remains they are?

Sabah News
Police To Check For Terrorist Remains In Kampung Tanduo
 
LAHAD DATU, April 9 (Bernama) -- Periodic checks will be conducted in Kampung Tanduo for the remains of terrorists from the militant group which invaded the village on Feb 12, said Sabah Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Tan Kok Lian.

He said K9 dog units would be used to detect graves which may contain such remains.

"We will check the area because there may still be some bodies buried in the village," he said after surveying several locations in Kampung Tanduo near here Tuesday.

Police discovered three graves containing 15 bodies, including that of a woman, and removed them from the village yesterday.

Mr. President, there is no shame in standing by the Sultanate, by the Tausugs, by the Filipinos in Sabah... there can only be pride because they are your people too. You can unite the country by standing by your people in time of crisis.

Mr President, every child left orphan because Malaysian troops killed his/her father or both will ask you why you did nothing while foreign toops killed a member/members of his/her family. Are you prepared to face that child to explain why you turned your back while Malaysian harmed his/her loved ones?

~~ Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
19 April 2013 

What is wrong with the Aquino Govt? Why the un-involved observer stance on Filipinos' Sabah claim?

Our questions: What is wrong with the Aquino Govt? Why the 'un-involved observer stance' on Filipinos' Sabah claim?

In her article "Reclaiming Sabah", Manila Standard Today columnist Linda V. Jimeno, rightly points out: 

"Why the government is taking the stance of an un-involved observer is beyond comprehension. When the sovereignty and dominion over the territory was transferred to the Philippine government by the Sultanate in 1962–which the government accepted as shown in its many overt acts–the government took on the responsibility of reclaiming Sabah and protecting Filipinos who initiate non-violent actions to revive the Philippine claim." 

Full article: 

Reclaiming Sabah Posted on Apr. 15, 2013 Manila Standard Today

In my column last week entitled “Legal basis for the Sabah claim,” I discussed how the Sulu Sultanate came to acquire North Borneo (Sabah) and exercise dominion and sovereignty over it, and how Malaysia  came to possess the territory. 

In this article, questions on what the Philippines has done to make an official claim over Sabah and how Malaysia responded will be discussed, culling from the booklet written by Prof. Emmanuel Q. Yap, founder of the People’s Patriotic Movement. 

When the Sulu Sultanate transferred by a legal instrument its dominion and sovereignty over Sabah to the Philippine government in 1962, did the government do anything to assert its ownership over Sabah? Yes. Even before the Federation of Malaysia came into being, the Philippine government, in 1950, advised the British government that it had a claim over Sabah. Too, the Federation of Malaya (not yet Malaysia) recognized that there was an Aide Memoire dated August 2, 1962 from the Foreign Affairs Department of the Philippines which reminded the Federation of Malaya that “Britain occupies the territory by the terms of the lease which, in no way, entitles the British government to claim ownership or sovereignty over the territory or to transfer it to any entity whatsoever.” 

The Federation of Malaya acknowledged this Aide Memoire by also handing an Aide Memoire to the Philippine Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur on October 3, 1962 stating that the government of the Federation of Malaya and the British government agreed that they would work towards a formal agreement for the transfer of the North Borneo territory (and Singapore) to the Federation of Malaysia. No such formal agreement was ever reached. Yet, Britain proceeded to include Sabah among the territories it transferred to Malaysia. 

On December 29, 1962, the Philippines and the United Kingdom announced an agreement to hold talks on the Philippine claim. Thus, from January 28 to February 1, 1963 the first Ministerial Conference on the Claims was held in London with then Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez heading the RP panel. 

Did not the Philippines object to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963 which included Sabah? Yes, it did, together with Indonesia which, in turn, was claiming Sarawak. Thus, then Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, Indonesian President Soekarno and Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal met in Manila in August 1963.  The Manila Accord of 1963 was signed where Malaysia agreed that the inclusion of Sabah in its Federation would not prejudice the Philippine claim. Malaysia acknowledged the right of the Philippines to pursue its claim in accordance with international laws and the United Nations principles of pacific settlement of disputes. 

From February 5 to 10, 1964, the first round of talks between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia (known as the Maphilindo talks) was held in Bangkok. Around the same time, President Macapagal and the Malaysian Prime Minister met in Phnom Penh. The Tunku agreed to elevate the claim to the International Court of Justice and encouraged the Philippines to submit a memorandum detailing the basis of its claims. The foreign affairs ministers of the Maphilindo states held a second round of talks from March 5 to 6, 1964. Then in June 1964 the Philippines gave to Malaysia its memorandum, “Philippine Claim to North Borneo Vol. 1” as suggested by the Malaysian Prime Minister. 

What happened in the Maphilindo talks in Bangkok? The talks failed because Malaysia unilaterally rejected the Philippine claim to Sabah and then terminated the talks. In so doing, it arrogated unto itself the power of a judge while being a contending party in the dispute. The talks were held supposedly to agree on what modes of settlement, as provided in the Manila Accord of 1963, were acceptable to both governments. 

How significant are the meetings in London and in Bangkok to the Philippine claim? The London foreign ministers’ meeting was significant in that it gave the Philippine claim the status of a legitimate international dispute. On the other hand, the Maphilindo agreement to meet in Bangkok pursuant to the Manila Accord was significant in that it contained a reservation agreed upon by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia that the formation of Malaysia would not prejudice the unresolved Philippine claim over North Borneo (Sabah). All three countries also agreed to settle the dispute by peaceful means such as arbitration. In effect, therefore, Malaysia accepted the existence of the legitimacy of the Philippine claim to Sabah. 

What is the effect of Malaysia’s unilateral termination of the Maphilindo talks in Bangkok? Malaysia violated several solemn agreements. One of them is the Manila Accord. Another is the agreement between the Philippine President and the Malaysian Prime Minister in Phnom Penh that the two countries would discuss the “best way of settling the claim, not precluding reference to the International Court of Justice.” Still another was the exchange of Communique between the two countries where both essentially agreed to discuss the best way to settle the claim. 

Should the Sultanate of Sulu be blamed for taking proactive action in reclaiming Sabah? The manner the Sultanate asserted its claim may not have been the proper and legal way but this writer will not go as far as blaming the Sultanate. The historical records speak for themselves. Why the government is taking the stance of an un-involved observer is beyond comprehension. When the sovereignty and dominion over the territory was transferred to the Philippine government by the Sultanate in 1962–which the government accepted as shown in its many overt acts–the government took on the responsibility of reclaiming Sabah and protecting Filipinos who initiate non-violent actions to revive the Philippine claim. 

E-mail: ritalindaj@gmail.com   Visit: www.jimenolaw.com.ph

Related blog posts:

The Most Beautiful Defence of the Philippine Sabah Claim

Signing of the Manila Accord

Government must not confuse itself on who is who in the Sulu Sultanate

Commentary by retired Ambassadors Baja and Lavinia

Senator Salonga warns Senator Sumulong

Should the Aquino Government now kill the Sabah claim to appease Malaysia?

Documents reveal Malaysia funded terror, secessionist, war activities in PH against PH Govt

Back to present - in picture: Malaysia Home
Minister Hishamm looking through binoculars during
Tanduo stand-off. A couple of days later,
 his Kuala Lumpur Govt gave orders to 'wipe out'
the Filipinos holed in in Tanduo.

LATEST REPORT: Kissinger cables: Malaysia sought US help to stop Philippines’ Sabah claim in 1973 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia had pleaded with the US government to intervene in the Philippines’ claim over Sabah in 1973, according to a series of recently declassified US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks yesterday. 

A secret cable from Henry Kissinger’s (picture) term as the US Secretary of State showed that former Malaysian ambassador to the US Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin had arranged a meeting with US ambassador Jack W. Lydman to discuss the issue, possibly under orders from then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
.../...

The Malaysia-Philippines counter-claims on Sabah were mentioned in several cables, with most referencing the Islamic insurgency in the Philippines by jihadist groups, of which Malaysia is a supporter. – The Malaysian Insider

For full article: Read Borneo Insider's reprint 

HISTORIANA: Libya and Malaysia actively backed terror, rebellion and war activities against PH Govt

Marcos’ decision to initiate a political settlement of the conflict came after two years of martial law. He was aware that the MNLF was not acting alone in its war against the state but was well supported by countries belonging to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) primarily with the active backing of Libya and Malaysia.

Marcos acknowledged that the only way to deal with the MNLF was to deal with its sponsors, especially the oil-rich members of the OIC in the Middle East where the country’s major oil requirements come from.

From: The Mindanao Conflict in the Philippines

A call against 'yellow journalism' in the Philippines

In light of the recent report brought to our attention by a member of the Defenders of the Philippinne Sabah and Spratly Claims community concerning a 'blatant example' of what can be qualified as media's jab or taunt against the Sultanate of Sulu, posted under a GMA Network banner, "A real sultan from Brunei in PHL for state visit" http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/photo/35952/a-real-sultan-from-brunei-in-phl-for-state-visit, we are reposting hereunder a reminder:

PLEASE SHARE -- THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: ON SABAH PROPRIETARY RIGHTS (DIFFERENT FROM SOVEREIGNTY RIGHTS WHICH BELONG TO THE REPUBLIC): THE SULTANATE OF SULU HAS NINE LEGALLY RECOGNISED ROYAL HEIRS...  

Their intra-family bickering must not affect whatever the Republic's position is on its claim to Sabah which, by law -- by virtue of Republic Act 5446, is Philippine territory. 
The nine royal heirs must be allowed to decide among themselves who their sultan is... 

We, the non-sultanate member citizens of the Republic, must leave them alone to sort out their own family problem.

The judicious thing to do is for everyone, specially members of Government to abstain from putting more fat in the already confusing fire or from making a dismissive remark as, "We don't even know who the legitimate sultan is!"  

The judicious thing to do is for everyone, specially members of Government to abstain from putting more fat in the already confusing fire or from making a dismissive remark as, "We don't even know who the legitimate sultan is!"  

Government must step back and avoid such confusing remarks because the principle of Government support for their struggle must be for the Sultanate of Sulu as a body and for the people of Sulu and not for an individual. 

Unless government and the public accept the principle that there are nine legal heirs representing the Sultanate of Sulu, Government itself risks defeating the Republic's own legal cause in the future. 

Government must not confuse the people of this country and instead must use the Philippine law to Government's advantage in trying to resolve the Sabah crisis which has now claimed several dozens dead in the hands of a foreign government's maniacal troops. 

~~ Admins, Philippine Sabah Claim Forum08 March 2013 

IN PICTURE: Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (picture taken around 1936).

On Sultanate Army guerilla base in Sabah: Malaysia's not so independent press in psy-war operations

Malaysia's not so independent press is highly sceptical of Sultanate's guerilla army base in Sabah which the Philippine Star reported about recently, a report that was carried by virtually every single Malaysia press outfit. 

However, it is important to note that on anything related to Sabah conflict, Malaysia print and broadcast media are fed largely by the powerful Bernama, Kuala Lumpur's state-run press agency, which will say anything and everything to prop up UMNO Party and Prime Minister Najib's own National Front Party (Barisan Nasional.)

In effect, Bernama can be rightly branded as Kuala Lumpur's 'mind conditionning arm' as it helps UMNO and Najib perpetuate gross historical inaccuracies, etc.

Readers therefore must be sceptical of opinion-based pieces bordering on psy-war tactics that are passed up as news items in Malaysia press. 

Here is an example of today's Borneo Insider banner which is not exactly what one expects from a so-called full-pledged news reporting outfit. We can only surmise that someone in Borneo Insider must have been ordered by Bernama to copy-paste Kuala Lumpur's press release. 

April, 15, 2013 - 9:25 amFact or Fiction
Sultan Kiram’s men set up guerrilla base in Sabah jungle claim – report

KOTA KINABALU: Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and his erstwhile spokesman, Abraham Idjirani are at it again in what many believe is a psychological war being waged against Malaysian security sources.

With their raiding force almost decimated and their so-called Radja Mudah, Agbimuddin Kiram either hiding in Simunul, Tawi-Tawi or even dead, the Kirams have hatched yet another interesting tale.

If last week they said that the MNLF had sent 400 of its fighters to Sabah to shore up Abgimuddin and his remaining ‘army’, this time around they are claiming that the followers of the sultanate of Sulu have set up a guerrilla base in the hinterlands of Sabah.

For more: The Borneo Insider: Fact or Fiction

And as if that was not enough, The Borneo Insider also posted a picture boasting a Malaysia Army armoured car; press photo caption smacks of deadly Malaysian challenge as it reads, "The Adnan VPC, an all-terrain armoured carrier and tank is waiting for Kiram’s men, wherever they are." 

Now, that to us sounds very much like a Bernama-sponsored psy-war gimmick ;-)

~~ Admins, Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims
15 April 2013

Thank you President Aquino for transforming treachery and treason into 'honest undertakings'!

TREACHERY

BASKET-HOODED 'MAKAPILI'

The Philippines is now officially a "Makapili" country in the service of Malaysia! Thank you, Mr. President! Thank you for making treachery and treason honest undertakings in the Philippines today. 

The Philippines' NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) is now part of Malaysia's beefed up security cordon against our fellow Filipinos whom Hisham brands as "terrorists." 

Malaysia's Home Minister Hisham announced today that Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will cooperate with regional and international intelligence agencies to strengthen security control, especially on territorial waters... and they include THE PHILIPPINES' NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY

Expect to see officials become 'bayong' hooded members of President Aquino's Makapili agency. Watch your backs, Tausugs and Suluks!

REPORT: Hisham: Regional and international intelligence cooperation to be beefed up April, 14, 2013 - 8:28 pm

KOTA KINABALU: Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will cooperate with regional and international intelligence agencies to strengthen security control, especially on territorial waters. 

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said surveillance and interception on land and sea will be extended under the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) after Ops Daulat has ended, to prevent terrorist groups from intruding into the country. 

Hishammuddin said related international intelligence agencies included National Intelligent Coordinating Agency (NICA), The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) and Interpol. 

Full story here.

A 'special medal' for Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia

Reports have it the Malaysia Prime Minister Najib presented special medal to Malaysian personnel who, upon his orders, chased and killed Tausugs in Sabah. 

Well, on behalf of the Filipinos in Sabah, here's a special medal (in picture) for Najib too courtesy of the Defenders of the Philippine Sabah and Spratly Claims -- that's all the ' speciql medal' you deserve, Najib, and share it with your 'Ops Daulat' people.

x

Picture caption says: Prime Minister Datuk Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak presenting the Pingat Kedaulatan Negara to one of 36 recipients during his visit to Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu on Saturday. Looking on are Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman (third left), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (second left), Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar (right) and Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Zulkefeli Mohd. Zin (left).  

To read report about Najib presenting special medal to personnel April, 13, 2013 - 11:37 pm, link here