The special government secretariat handling the issue said the appellate court ruled that the Sulu claimants’ challenge on the stay order was “inadmissible”.

“Hence, the stay obtained by Malaysia on July 12, 2022, for the enforcement of the purported final award remains,” it said in a statement.

Earlier this month, a group of individuals presenting themselves as court bailiffs had gone to the Malaysian embassy in the French capital on Monday to request access to the premises.

Diplomatic staff, however, rejected the request and the bailiffs left shortly after. According to a Reuters report, the group had attempted to enforce a seizure order on the property.

In February 2022, a French arbitration court issued an award requiring Putrajaya to pay US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) to the alleged Sulu heirs.

Arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa ruled Malaysia had violated the 1878 agreements between the old Sulu kingdom in the Philippines and a representative of the British North Borneo Company that used to administer what is now Sabah.

The arbitration process had originated in Spain but was moved to Paris.

In July 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal granted Malaysia an unconditional stay of the final award pending the appellate court’s decision on an application by Malaysia to have it set aside. The claimants then filed a challenge on the stay order.

The secretariat said the stay order reinforced Malaysia’s position that the arbitration process was without legitimate basis and affected the nation’s territorial sovereignty.

“Malaysia will continue to defend itself robustly in all legal fora against all forms of lawfare instituted by her adversaries.”

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