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The Star

The demand from the United Tausug Citizens for 70 billion ringgit (US$15 billion) and recognition over Sabah is concerning and must be addressed by Malaysia, Azalina Othman said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) likened UTC’s claims, which constitute about 16 per cent of the national budget, to extortion.
“The UTC’s threat to sue Malaysia in the United States is alarming.
“We must address these spurious claims that risk 16 per cent of our national budget and exploit arbitration for profit, akin to extortion schemes,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
Malaysia hails ‘decisive victory’ over Sulu heirs after French court ruling
Such demands, she said, are a threat to the integrity of sovereign states and the principles of justice.
UTC had asked the Malaysian government for an immediate payment of US$15 billion in what it dubbed as “cession money”.
The group also sought the recognition of UTC as a “sovereign and independent state kingdom”.
The UTC claims came after failed attempts by the so-called heirs of the defunct Sulu Sultanate to seek compensation totalling 68.8 billion ringgit against Malaysia.

Azalina said she had spoken about the Sulu issue and risks of third-party litigation funding (TPLF) to state sovereignty when she was in France last year, and also at the 2024 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting that took place in Zanzibar, Tanzania earlier this month.
“TPLF often prioritises profit over justice, challenging the core purpose of our legal system,” she said.
While litigation funding is crucial for access to justice, she said its multibillion-dollar industry status raises questions about its true intent.
“A lack of regulation poses a global threat, calling for urgent oversight,” she added.
Why are the Philippine heirs of a sultan clashing with Malaysia over Sabah?
Azalina said the secretive nature of TPLF in sham arbitrations necessitates global regulatory oversight and ethical standards to prevent abuse and exploitation.
“Calls for transparency in TPLF are growing,” she said, adding that US federal lawmakers and the European Parliament had proposed to regulate this industry and mitigate national security risks.
“Litigation funding must be transparent and regulated to prevent abuse.
“Malaysia advocates for ongoing dialogue to regulate this industry effectively,” she said.
This story was first published by The Star


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Malaysia

Sulu heirs ‘alarming’ threat to sue Malaysia for US$15 billion in US court is ‘extortion scheme’, Azalina says

Azalina Othma said the demand from the UTC for 70 billion ringgit and recognition over Sabah is concerning and must be addressed by Malaysia. Photo Facebook/Azalina Othman

 Azalina Othman says United Tausug Citizens’s demands are concerning. Photo: Facebook/Azalina Othman

Spanish court convicts arbitrator who awarded US$15 billion to Sultan of Sulu’s heirs in Malaysia land feud case

An aerial view of a beach in Sabah. Spain has convicted a mediator who awarded billions to a sultan’s heirs in the territorial feud. Photo: Shutterstock

Historical territory of the Sultanate of Sulu. Graphic: SCMP

Spanish mediator who granted US$15 billion to Sulu heirs in Malaysia land dispute charged with contempt of court

Spain has charged a mediator who awarded billions to sultan’s heirs in Malaysia feud, with contempt of court. Photo: Shutterstock

Historical territory of the Sultanate of Sulu. Photo: SCMP

Malaysia says Philippine heirs of Sulu sultan withdraw claim on Paris buildings linked to arbitration dispute

The heirs of former Sulu sultan have dropped their bid to seize three Malaysian properties in Paris. Photo: SCMP

Malaysia wins Dutch case over Sulu heirs’ US$15 billion award

Sunset at a beach in Sabah. A Dutch court ruled dismissed a bid by eight descendants of a former sultan to enforce a US$15 billion arbitration award they had won against the government of Malaysia. Photo: Shutterstock

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the decision by the Dutch court. Photo: Pool via Reuters/File

Malaysia PM Anwar says Philippines has nothing to do with Sulu heir claims

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) speaks during the question-and-answer session at the Parliament. Photo: dpa

Anwar Ibrahim said that Sabah is Malaysia’s ‘sacred’ territory. Photo: AP

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The UTC had asked the Malaysian government for ‘cession money’, and sought the recognition of UTC as a ‘sovereign and independent state kingdom’
The claims came after failed attempts by the so-called heirs of the defunct Sulu Sultanate to seek compensation totalling about US$15 billion against Malaysia


Azalina Othman, Member of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, said that such demands, are a threat to the integrity of sovereign states and the principles of justice.


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