Final Victory Reaffirms Sabah’s Sovereignty

7 September 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The recent landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, which dismissed the appeal filed by the Sulu claimants, is a significant victory for Sabah and Malaysia, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He stated, “The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Malaysia, thereby putting an end to a claim that Sabah has never recognized.”

Hajiji emphasised that Sabah’s sovereignty within Malaysia should remain unquestioned and unchallenged by anyone.

His comments were made in response to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who noted that the Supreme Court's decision effectively closes the chapter on the claimants' attempts to enforce what she described as illegitimate claims against Malaysia.

This ruling follows a series of legal victories for Malaysia, including a previous decision by the Hague Court of Appeal, which upheld Malaysia's challenge against the claimants' application to recognize and enforce a purported Final Award rendered by Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa.

The Chief Minister's statements reflect a broader sentiment in Sabah, where leaders rally to protect the state's sovereignty and interests against external claims.