Azalina: Sulu claim heads to Paris court July 7 as Malaysia fights US$14.9 billion arbitration ruling
Published on: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Published on: Wed, Apr 30, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said speaks to reporters during the Political Funding Bill briefing at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) in Kuala Lumpur March 6, 2025. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Kuala Lumpur: The next proceedings in the case involving the Sulu group's claim are scheduled to be heard at the Paris Court of Appeal on July 7, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said the hearing would see the French judiciary examine the validity of the arbitration award imposed on Malaysia as well as various related legal aspects. 'Malaysia will continue to exhaust all efforts, rights and available resources to protect the country's sovereign immunity and interests, and to bring to a close the baseless fraud case by the Sulu group. 'Several recent rulings in Malaysia's favour have significantly strengthened Malaysia's legal position and sovereignty as an independent nation,' she said in a statement today. She added that among these decisions were the French Court of Cassation's cancellation of the recognition of the preliminary award, the Dutch Supreme Court's rejection of the final award, and the French Court of Appeal's criminal conviction of arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa for contempt of court. Azalina said the Sulu group's claim had challenged the limits of Malaysia's sovereign immunity, exposing how third-party funding was misused to prolong baseless claims against Malaysia through highly deceptive means, while also revealing attempts by private arbitration tribunals to seize government assets. Currently on a working visit to Europe, Azalina also met with the legal team representing Malaysia in Paris to continue strategising and receive updates on the ongoing Sulu claim case. Previously, eight Filipino nationals claiming to be heirs of the now-defunct Sulu Sultanate filed arbitration proceedings in Spain to demand billions of US dollars from Malaysia over issues involving Sabah. In March 2019, a court in Madrid appointed Stampa as the arbitrator for the case. On Feb 28, 2022, Stampa ruled in favour of the group and issued a Final Award of USD14.9 billion through an unlawful arbitration process, despite his appointment having already been annulled by a Spanish court. Malaysia has since secured a series of legal victories in the case, including in November last year, when the French Supreme Court fully rejected the group's legal challenge. That historic win for Malaysia meant the original basis for the Final Award — which required Malaysia to pay USD14.9 billion in compensation — was not recognised under French law. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Indonesia's FM calls for stronger Asean mechanisms after Vision 2045 adoption
JAKARTA/MANILA (Bernama): Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for strengthening Asean's institutional mechanisms, including its diplomatic corps and central bodies, to effectively implement the Asean Community Vision 2045 adopted at last month's summit in Kuala Lumpur. At a meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to Asean (CPR) and Timor-Leste's Ambassador to Asean at the Foreign Ministry here, he praised the progress achieved through Asean's cooperation frameworks, especially after the adoption of the Asean Community Vision (ACV) 2045. He said the long-term vision, adopted at the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur last month, outlines a strategic roadmap for the next two decades, envisaging a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred Asean. "We need to strengthen Asean mechanisms, including the CPR, and bolster the Asean Secretariat and Asean Headquarters in Jakarta to optimise our potential in addressing challenges within the region and globally,' he said. Sugiono also underscored the CPR's role in fostering community building, facilitating cross-pillar coordination, and engaging with Asean's external partners, as it is essential to achieving the goals of ACV. He further welcomed Timor-Leste's upcoming accession as Asean's eleventh member state later this year. - Bernama
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Klang boat tragedy: Victims may not have been wearing life jackets, say cops
KLANG: All victims involved in the capsized boat incident in the waters off Tanjung Harapan here Friday (June 6) were believed not to be wearing life jackets, says Asst Comm S. Vijaya Rao. The North Klang OCPD said initial investigations also revealed that the boat, which was being test-driven, was operated by its owner at the time. He said the absence of life jackets had made the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the remaining two missing victims among the six people on board more difficult. "Those who engage in activities at sea must wear life jackets, which are very useful during emergencies like this capsized boat incident, in addition to having swimming skills," he said at a press conference at the search site in Tanjung Harapan Saturday (June 7). ACP Vijaya said the location where the boat capsized had been identified, but strong currents may have swept the two missing victims away and caused them to drown. Meanwhile, he said police had recorded statements from three individuals, including one survivor. "The actual cause of the incident has yet to be determined, and the case is being investigated under Section 280 of the Penal Code," he said. In the incident at about 5pm, three individuals including a child died, one survived (Alvin Chang Yan Qin, 17), while a married couple remains missing. The deceased victims were Darren Gan, 3; Cheu Son Hin, 50; and Fong Yong Sen, 29, while those still missing have been identified as Gan Hon Tat, 32, and his wife Careen Man, 29, both from Klang Utama. - Bernama
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Capsized boat victims believed not wearing life jackets
KLANG: All victims involved in the capsized boat incident in the waters off Tanjung Harapan here yesterday were believed not to be wearing life jackets. North Klang district police chief ACP S. Vijaya Rao said initial investigations also revealed that the boat, which was being test-driven, was operated by its owner at the time. He said the absence of life jackets had made the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the remaining two missing victims among the six people on board more difficult. "Those who engage in activities at sea must wear life jackets, which are very useful during emergencies like this capsized boat incident, in addition to having swimming skills," he said at a press conference at the search site in Tanjung Harapan today. Vijaya said the location where the boat capsized had been identified, but strong currents may have swept the two missing victims away and caused them to drown. Meanwhile, he said police had recorded statements from three individuals, including one survivor. "The actual cause of the incident has yet to be determined, and the case is being investigated under Section 280 of the Penal Code," he said. In the incident at about 5pm, three individuals including a child died, one survived (Alvin Chang Yan Qin, 17), while a married couple remains missing. The deceased victims were Darren Gan, 3; Cheu Son Hin, 50; and Fong Yong Sen, 29, while those still missing have been identified as Gan Hon Tat, 32, and his wife Careen Man, 29, both from Klang Utama. – Bernama
