Govt declares one of alleged Sulu sultan heirs as terrorist

The government has declared one of the alleged heirs of the Sulu sultanate a terrorist, according to Prime Minister Department’s Legal Affairs Division.

Its director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the Home Ministry made the decision against Fuad A Kiram (above) over his role in the Lahad Datu insurgency in Sabah 10 years ago.

Fuad is one of the eight self-proclaimed heirs of the Sulu sultanate engaged in international legal battles with Putrajaya over their claim to get US$14.92 billion (RM65.88 billion) from Malaysia.

“The government recently classified one of the claimants in the suit as a terrorist.

“He is Fuad A Kiram, who was involved in (the armed insurgency) case at Kampung Tanduo.

“The individual was classified as a terrorist on April 6 under Section 66 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” Khairul said.

He was speaking at a special engagement session with the media in Putrajaya. It was held to give the latest update on the legal battle.

The Sulu legal action is in response to Malaysia cutting off annual lease payments of RM5,300 for Sabah to the sultanate in 2013 after the Lahad Datu invasion.

However, it was unclear what kind of impact the action against Fuad would have in the legal battle or if it would be able to aid Malaysia in its case.

Khairul declined to comment when asked about this.

According to the Federal Gazette on Fuad’s classification as a terrorist, Fuad, or his full name Muhammad Fuad Abdullah Kiram, had “participated in and facilitated the commission of a terrorist act”.

Putrajaya ‘on the offensive’

Khairul said the government has also set up a special website dedicated to publishing information on the Sulu case.

He told reporters that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said will launch the website, to be published in five languages including Tagalog, French and Spanish, tomorrow.

The website is aimed at providing the public and international community with accurate information about the case, especially those in countries where the legal battles are taking place, namely Spain, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.

Regarding updates on the legal battles, Khairul said the government is going with an offensive approach against the claimants.

He said Malaysia is engaged in legal battles with the claimants at courts in the countries, while the case at Madrid High Court in Spain has affirmed a decision to annul Gonzalo Stampa as an arbitrator.

Stampa was the arbitrator who instructed Malaysia to pay at least US$14.92 billion to the descendants of the last Sulu sultan.

According to Khairul, Stampa reportedly gave the award to the claimants despite the Madrid High Court setting aside his decision in 2021 and nullifying his appointment as an arbitrator.

“Thus, Malaysia has filed a criminal complaint against Stampa to the Spain prosecutor as he had ignored the Madrid High Court decision dated June 29, 2021, that nullified his appointment.

“On Nov 25, 2022, the Madrid Criminal Court finalised its investigation and decided for him to be prosecuted,” Khairul added.

Stampa, he said, appeared before the court on March 16 to be informed of the court decision and was given 10 days to file his defence.

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