Sabah Belongs to Philippines

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal stressed the sovereignty of Sabah in Malaysian is not negotiable because history indicates that Sabah belongs to Malaysia.

In this regard, Shafie, who is also Umno vice-president, said no party should make demands or question the sovereignty of Sabah in Malaysia because the chronology of history on the position of Sabah in Malaysia is clear and enshrined under the United Nations.

"If we look at the chronology, the cession fee which was decided was only a consolation, not rental, not compensation to the heir of the Sulu sultanate in existence at that time.

"After that, Sabah was invaded by the British but they (the heirs of the Sulu sultanate, who purportedly had rights), did not defend Sabah," he told reporters after meeting 160 Village Development and Security Committee chairmen and 152 heads of village here Friday.

Shafie, also Semporna Member of Parliament, said during the Second World War, the Japanese went to Sabah, but those who claimed they had rights to Sabah did nothing to defend the state and Sabah was defended by Sabahans.

Shafie said, in fact it was warriors like Mat Salleh who rose to oppose the colonizers when Sabah was under the British, and not those parties who claimed they had rights to the state.

He said, when the Cobbold Commission was set up in 1962 and carried out a consensus, with the members of the commission going all over the state, more than two-thirds of Sabahans at that time agreed to join Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Shafie Friday handed a private contribution to the family of the late Sgt Abdul Azis Sarikon at their residences.

He said the private contribution was aimed at easing the burden of the family of Azis who was killed in an ambush by militants from Sulu at Kampung Simunul last Saturday.

He said the contribution of RM10,000 was handed to eight families of policemen who were killed in Lahad Datu.

Shafie said, educational expenditure for the eldest son of Azis would also be borne by the Education Ministry, up to the university level.

The handing over ceremony was also joined by 1Malaysia Putera Club president Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and a representative of the Giant supermarket who contributed basic necessities worth RM300 a month for 12 months, to the families of the victims.