We refer to your report on the claim on Sabah by the newly crowned Sultan of Sulu. As a Malaysian born in Sabah, I am obliged to give my response.

First, allow me to re-assert that Sabah has always been an 'integral part of Malaysia' (borrowing from Joseph Salang Gandum, the deputy foreign minister' remarks when asked to comment on the issue).

I agree with the deputy minister's contention and use of the word 'integral'. It is literally means that Sabahans, notwithstanding cultural and religious differences, have always regarded Malaysia as their mother country.

The Sultan of Sulu must recognise Sabah's sovereignty as one of the 13 states within Malaysia. An unjustifiable encroachment into Sabah's territory by the Sultan of Sulu will mean going against the sovereign rights of Sabahans and the principles of international law.

Moreover, in the long run, the persistent claim on Sabah by the Sultan of Sulu will be detrimental to regional harmony and stability. The Sultan of Sulu must take the opportunity to establish good ties with the Sabah government and its people as a whole.

When this is done, the Sultan of Sulu and its subjects will benefit from the economic opportunities and the good social interaction that are readily in place.

The allegations of maltreatment by Malaysian authorities against Filipinos are unsubstantiated on one hand, and fallaciously argued on the other. He should not make these so-called allegations to justify his attention.

In fact, the Malaysian government has spent a staggering one million ringgit every year to treat illegal Filipino immigrants at detention centres in Sabah ( Daily Express , Oct 9). Legal or illegal Filipino immigrants have also enjoyed basic amenities together with the local people.

We never look upon them differently because we know that as human beings, they are also entitled to such facilities. But then, when laws are broken, of course the Malaysian authorities have to take action.

The Sultan of Sulu must be grateful that we have been treating Filipinos as our own brethren in the spirit of regional friendship and goodwill.

In the meantime, our leaders, especially those from Sabah, must make their stand that Sabah is part and parcel of Malaysia based on the principle of 'uti posseditis juris' which gives a particular country legal sovereignty through effective possession.

Our leaders also have to convince the people that there is nothing to be worried about the Sultan of Sulu's claim as he has made his claims in an individual capacity which does not reflect the Philippines government's stand on the issue.

For peace's sake, the Sultan of Sulu must realise that regional harmony in Asean must first be

preserved and upheld. As peace-loving people, we do not want to see another East Timor, Aceh or southern Thailand recur in our region.