Islamic group urges gov’t to pursue Sabah claim

MANILA, Philippines - An Islamic group yesterday urged Congress to pass a resolution to authorize the executive branch to pursue the claim over Sabah peacefully and legally.

Amina Rasul, president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), also urged the government to create a committee under the Office of the President to address the claim over Sabah.

Rasul said Congress should also pass a resolution to express the sense of both chambers on the crisis in Lahad Datu town in Sabah. 

“We pray that leaders, Filipino and Malaysian, will prioritize the lives and citizens and peace and security of both our countries,” she said.

Due to the urgency of the matter, Rasul recommended the creation of a crisis committee to work on a peaceful and just resolution of the crisis in Lahad Datu.

“The highly volatile situation calls for tempered and experienced leaders, knowledgeable about the underlying issues, to diffuse the tensions,” she added.

Rasul said the PCID is reiterating the call for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the Sabah crisis.

“We join the United Nations’ call for both parties to dialogue and avoid further destruction of lives and property,” she said.

The group also called on independent parties such as the UN Peacekeeping Forces to maintain order in the conflict areas.

The group also called on the Malaysian government to allow the Red Crescent to enter the area to be able to provide medical assistance and humanitarian aid to the victims and casualties.

The largest faction in the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Cotabato City Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema called on the Malaysian government and the Sulu sultanate to jointly observe a ceasefire to ease the tension in Sabah.

Prolonging the hostilities in the mineral-rich island state will badly affect the lives of thousands of Malaysians and Moro communities in the area, Sema said.

Sema said their group is certain the conflict in Sabah could be resolved if all protagonists will agree to a dialogue based on Islamic teachings on consensus-building as a basic parameter in addressing community concerns.

“We are for an immediate end of the bloodshed there. Malaysia is not our enemy. We, in fact, regard Malaysia as a ‘big brother’ for having helped us in the MNLF when we fought the Philippine government,” Sema said.

Sema even recalled how Malaysia gave sanctuary to members of the MNLF in some of its islands during the 1970s.

He said they also appreciate the continuing support of Malaysia to the Philippine government’s peace process.

“Problems and misunderstandings can be discussed amicably, without bloodshed,” he said.

Sema also urged Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III to shift to peaceful means of reasserting his claim on Sabah.

“There are peaceful means and diplomatic channels the sultanate can utilize to ventilate their sentiments. These procedures are far from bloody and painful,” he said.

Local officials of the Tawi-Tawi provincial government led by Gov. Sadikul Sahali also signed a manifesto urging Malaysia and the sultanate of Sulu to end the strife in Sabah.

The signatories also called on Sultan Kiram and the Malaysian government to agree to a peaceful dialogue to enable both sides to freely iron out their misunderstandings over Sabah.

“Anger will only exacerbate the situation. Divisive politics, racial prejudices and violent postures should not influence both sides,” the manifesto stated.

Omar Solitarion Ali, an MNLF leader based in Lanao del Sur, said President Aquino should take the initiative to bring the claims of the Kirams on Sabah before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop further bloodshed.

Ali said it needs a great balancing act on the part of President Aquino to preserve diplomatic ties with Malaysia and at the same time help the cause of the Kirams and their followers.

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial hopeful JV Ejercito said the government should show concern to the Muslim-Filipinos living in Sabah.

Ejercito said he supports a diplomatic resolution to the crisis but the government must show concern for the Filipinos living in the region. – John Unson, Lino de la Cruz, Jose Rodel Clapano