'Malaysia trying to undermine sultan followers' claim over Sabah'

ZAMBOANGA CITY -  Malaysia's move to label the followers of Sulu sultanate as terrorists is a  ploy to undermine the latter's claim over Sabah,  a lawmaker representing Sulu province said on Monday.

Sulu  Rep. Tupay Loong said  Malaysia's action to call the sultan followers as terrorists seek to counter any international sympathy for the group and the latter's claim over Sabah.

Agbimuddin Kiram, younger brother of Sulu sultanate Jamalul Kiram III, with more than 200 followers,   many  of them unarmed,  in February  went to Lahad Datu  to claim ownership over  resource-rich  Sabah. Agbimuddin is on  the run following a standoff that sparked offensives between the sultan followers and the Malaysian security forces.

“That’s the only way for Malaysian authorities to  [undermine] the legitimate claim of the Sulu sultanate. They (Sulu sultanate followers) were called terrorists because a terrorist group  is an organization that is  an enemy of all nations...,” Loong said.

Loong, however,  said the international community has been prudent and has refused to accept  the  terrorist label given to sultan followers, citing that even the United Nations  has called for a halt to the hostilities.- Roel Pareño