She said such a law was needed to uphold the country’s sovereign rights and national demarcations, the New Straits Times reported.

Azalina said the new law would be tabled for approval by Parliament in October.

The government’s move comes in the wake of legal challenges mounted on behalf of a group claiming to be heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate in a dispute over payments for ceding sovereignty over Sabah.

Azalina said there was a need for a different procedure in the event Malaysia faces legal claims from another party.

“They cannot just issue summons against us just like that, with us being unaware of it. How can that happen?” she was quoted as saying.

Azalina referred to an attempt by French bailiffs, acting on a claim by the so-called heirs, to encroach into the Malaysian embassy in Paris and the homes of embassy officers to get an inventory of the premises.

She said the ambassador told her that these bailiffs had “simply entered” the premises and demanded to know how many lights, windows and doors there were.

She described the Sulu claimants as being insolent in their actions, as diplomatic premises are sovereign territory and bear legal immunity.

“Here in Malaysia we are at risk of getting shot if we try to enter an embassy; we cannot even get to the gate or even park there,” she said.

On Tuesday, the Hague Court of Appeal dismissed a bid by eight people, claiming to be descendants of the late sultan of Sulu, to enforce a US$15 billion arbitration award against the Malaysian government.

Earlier this month, the Paris Court of Appeal annulled the US$15 billion award from Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa.

Azalina said Putrajaya will embark on a legal offensive against the “sham award” claimed by purported Sulu heirs.