Kirams find P70K rent for Sabah 'unacceptable'

MANILA, Philippines - Acting governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Friday said the Kiram clan had originally wanted to meet with Malaysian authorities to discuss the "unacceptable" rent for Sabah being paid by Kuala Lumpur to the family.

"We met with sultan Jamalul Kiram, spokesman Abraham Idijarani and [Jamalul's daughter] Jacel Kiram. And when it was her time to speak, she said they have no plans of reclaiming Sabah. She said it would be better if  the Malaysian government meets with them to discuss Sabah and propriety rights. She added that it is unacceptable that they are only being paid 5,300 (about P70,000) ringgits for Sabah, when that amount could not even rent an apartment," Hataman said in Filipino. The meeting with the Kirams and Idijarani took place in Taguig City on February 18.

Another meeting took place on February 26, Hataman said. Armed conflict, however, broke out between the sultan's followers and Malaysian forces last week.

Hataman also said he met with Ismail in Zamboanga on Thursday, and the latter said his younger brother Agbimmudin Kiram is thinking of a way to prevent further bloodshed in Sabah. On Thursday, Malaysian authorities said security forces killed 31 Filipinos in Borneo.

Jacel and Mariel Rodriguez, wife of actor Robin Padilla, visited Simunul Tawi-Tawi on Thursday. Padilla is a Muslim convert.

As of the moment, Hataman also said he is not aware of any backchannel efforts with the Kiram clan. Jamalul has declared a unilateral ceasefire on Thursday following a statement from the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calling for a peace resolution to the Sabah crisis.