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KUCHING, June 27: The Hague Court of Appeal’s decision to rule in favour of Malaysia by refusing to recognise the Final Award brought by the ‘heirs’ of the long-defunct Sultanate of Sulu is another landmark victory for the Government of Malaysia, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a media statement issued today, he said that the Government of Malaysia welcomes the news, as the decision has blocked any attempt by the Claimants (heirs) to enforce their ‘illegitimate’ claims against the Government of Malaysia in the Netherlands.
“This verdict in The Hague Court of Appeal is another landmark victory for the Government of Malaysia following the Paris Court of Appeal’s decision on 6 June 2023.
“The Government of Malaysia is confident that we are now closer than ever to completely nullifying the sham and abusive Final Award amounting to approximately USD15 billion issued by Dr Gonzalo Stampa, thus consigning the Claimants’ flawed claims to history.
“Malaysia trusts that today’s decision of The Hague Court of Appeal, combined with the recent decision of the Paris Court of Appeal, will put an end to the frivolous attempts of the Claimants to enforce the purported Final Award in other jurisdictions,” he said in the media statement.
Anwar added that the Government of Malaysia has stopped at nothing to protect the nation’s sovereignty, national security, and national interest.
“The Sulu case demonstrates a grave violation of Malaysia’s sovereign immunity which matters to every citizen of Malaysia Madani,” he said.
He also expressed thanks to Dato Sri Azalina Othman, Chair of the Special Secretariat and Minister of Law & Institutional Reforms; Dato Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil, the Minister of Communications and Digital; Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Minister of Home Affairs; Tan Sri Idrus Harun, the Attorney General; and all relevant Ministries and agencies, including counsels and all other parties involved.
“The Government of Malaysia will fight by any means necessary against this flagrant exploitation and abuse of the international arbitral system as well as take all necessary actions to recover the costs for the public resources that Malaysia has been forced to expend in dealing with these claims.
“The Government of Malaysia is confident that justice will prevail for the people of Malaysia,” he said in the statement.
Meanwhile, when met by reports during his working visit to Laos, Anwar added, “Alhamdulillah, we won. Malaysia has managed to end a bad episode of those who challenged the country’s sovereignty.” — DayakDaily
