‘SULU SULTAN’ QUITS UMNO

‘Sulu Sultan’ quits Umno

February 22, 2011 Local businessman Mohd Akjan Bin Datu Ali Muhammad, caught in a controversy over his self-proclamation as the 33rd Sulu Sultan has slammed his critics for blowing the issue out of proportion.

KOTA KINABALU: Self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Mohd Akjan Bin Datu Ali Muhammad, has resigned from Sabah Umno and its Gaya division with immediate effect.

Stating that the controversy over his “coronation” had reached a point of no return, he said he had no choice but to leave the one-and-only political party which he had been with for more than two decades, especially after having contributed to its growth and expansion in many ways.

He, however, said that he reserved the absolute right “to fully explain it” (his contribution to Umno) when the right time comes.

“Hence, there’s no need for anyone to bring the matter concerning my membership in Umno to the supreme council for deliberation and decision,” he said.

He noted that copies of his resignation letters were submitted to both the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, as well as in Sabah, today.

Akjan said the recent series of attacks in the media and police reports lodged against him by certain organisations and individuals in Sabah on his purported “coronation” as the 33rd reigning sultan of the Sulu Sultanate on Feb 2, were politically-motivated and with malicious intent to “assassinate” his character.

He also regretted that this has subsequently caused his entire family including his children, aged from nine onwards, to be picked up and investigated by the police.

“I shall reserve my right to take legal action against this group of individuals and organisations,” he said.

Informed Special Branch

However, he considered the event a blessing in disguise as it allowed him to see who his true allies and foes are.

Akjan reiterated that what took place on that particular day at one of his properties in Kampung Likas here, was just a “majlis doa selamat dan kesyukuran” (thanks-giving ceremony), following his acceptance of the offer and mandate from the Sulu interim government to be the 33rd reigning Sultan of Sulu.

He said that it was not a coronation ceremony as interpreted and “blown out of proportion by certain individuals and groups with political interest”.

He claimed that prior to the ceremony, he had in fact personally informed and briefed the officer of the Special Branch (SB) of Kota Kinabalu district, of what was going to happen on that day.

“I even invited him and his officers to attend and to witness the ceremony but they said there was no need to do so since I have briefed them on it,” said.

Akjan said he had fully briefed the Special Branch chief and his officers during their meeting at the Hyatt Kinabalu Hotel here. Among others, he informed them that he had turned down the offer by the Sulu interim government and relevant senior officials of the Sulu Sultanate thrice, but subsequently gave in to their plea.

He also swore that he had never lobbied nor was he interested to be the sultan as he fully understands its heavy responsibility, risks and challenges that come with it.

He explained that he was “shortlisted” and offered the position, following a thorough investigation and examination conducted by senior officials of the Sulu interim government and the palace, which confirmed that he is indeed a direct descendant of the last reigning Sultan of Sulu, Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Shariful Hashim 1.

Drop claim against Sabah

Akjan said that one of the main reasons he accepted the offer was that the Sulu interim government and senior palace officials had agreed to his condition to drop the ongoing claim on Sabah by the sultanate.

This will be officially made known to the United Nations (UN) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, he said.

“This was formally agreed in a written agreement which was signed by me during the thanks-giving ceremony. It was witnessed by more than 60 people, including the prime minister of the Sulu interim government, Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain, and various representatives of the Council of Royal Datus, the Royal Houses of Maimbung and Patikul,” he said.

He also said he accepted the Sulu interim government’s offer to be the sultan because he wanted to restore the Sulu Sultanate’s long-subdued sovereignty.

Also, he said, “it was partly because of his love for Malaysia since he is a bona fide Malaysian citizen”.

Akjan said that when the day of his actual coronation comes, he will have no choice but to surrender his Malaysian citizenship. Akjan claims he was born on July 7, 1957 in Kampung Limau-limauan, Kudat.

He also said that he has only Malaysian citizenship.

“Let me assert here that I have not gone crazy as what some of my critics have thought. I am fully aware of what I am doing, even if it means I have to sacrifice my Malaysian citizenship and even my life, for my struggle for truth, justice, peace and the betterment of my Muslim brothers and sisters in Malaysia and Sulu,” he said.