Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said the actions and statements of the claimants had tarnished Malaysia’s image and were a threat to the nation’s security and sovereignty.
“The website aims to provide facts to counter the allegations of the Sulu claimants and to enable the Malaysian public and the international community to follow developments on this case transparently,” she said.
Launching the website at Perdana Putra here today, Azalina said documents and more information would be added regularly to reflect developments about the case.
The website will be available in five languages, namely Malay, English, French, Spanish and Tagalog. However, this will be done in stages.
For now, it is only available in English.
“I hope Malaysians and the media will follow this case carefully according to the official website as the reporting and dissemination of untrue or inaccurate information could have a negative impact on the nation’s sovereignty,” Azalina said.
Also at the launch were communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil and foreign minister Zambry Abd Kadir.
The website may be accessed at www.malaysia-sulucase.gov.my.
Annual payments of RM5,300 to the descendants of the Sulu sultan were discontinued by Malaysia after an armed group landed in Lahad Datu in 2013 to pursue a claim of sovereignty over Sabah.
A legal firm in London, representing a group of nine people based in the Philippines, has filed a series of legal suits against the government following a US$15 billion arbitration claim it obtained against Malaysia.
In February 2022, a French arbitration court instructed Putrajaya to pay US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) to the descendants of the last sultan of Sulu.
Arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa ruled that 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.
Malaysia has challenged the arbitration order in France and Spain. A French court granted a stay order on the award, pending a decision on Malaysia’s claim that the order infringed its sovereignty over Sabah.
A Spanish court earlier this year annulled the appointment of the arbitrator who had granted the US$15 billion award.
In the latest action, the Sulu descendants attempted to seize three properties in Paris owned by the Malaysian government.