One of 'Sulu Sultans' off to jail
Tawau Nov 04: The High Court rejected, Thursday, an application by a man against his eight months' imprisonment and fine of RM10,000 imposed by the Lahad Datu Magistrate's Court for illegal gathering and showing disrespect for Sabah's flag.
Hishammuddin Arah Polis Sabah Siasat Status Kewarganegaraan Datu Akjan
KOTA KINABALU, 29 Mei (Bernama) -- Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein mengarahkan polis untuk menyiasat status kewarganegaraan Datu Mohamad Akjan Datu Ali Muhamad, yang mengisytiharkan dirinya sebagai "Sultan Sulu" pada 2 Feb.
"Jika benar dia telah melanggar undang-undang, maka dia perlu menghadapi apa jua tindakan yang ada kepada kita mengikut undang-undang," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan surat pelantikan kepada Pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Sabah Ismail Ahmad dan Pengarah Jabatan Penjara negeri Suria Idris, kedua-duanya penduduk Sabah, di sini, pada hari Ahad.
Hishammuddin diminta mengulas gesaan para pemimpin dari parti-parti komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) termasuk Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (Upko), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) dan pembangkang supaya kewarganegaraan Mohamad Akjan dilucutkan kerana membuat pengisytiharan itu.
Mohamad Akjan telah diisytihar sebagai Sultan Sulu ke-33 iaitu keturunan langsung Sultan Sulu terakhir, Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Shariful Hashim 1, dalam satu upacara tertutup yang dihadiri sekumpulan 60 orang termasuk pengikutnya dari wilayah Sulu di rumahnya di Kampung Likas.
Mereka berkata mengangkat sumpah taat setia kepada kuasa asing merupakan "satu tindakan tidak setia atau penderhakaan besar dan satu kesalahan serius di bawah undang-undang dan bahawa status Mohamad Akjan dan identiti sebenar, sama ada dia warga Malaysia atau Filipina sebenar yang datang ke Sabah sebagai seorang pelarian, merupakan satu perkara yang menyentuh kepentingan awam.
Hishammuddin berkata kementerian memandangkan serius perkara itu dan memberi kuasa kepada Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Hamza Taib, dengan bantuan pegawai dari Bukit Aman, untuk menyiasat dengan teliti.
"Kita perlu tahu sama ada boleh didakwa. Jika dia (Mohamad Akjan) menjadi satu risiko kepada keselamatan maka apa sahaja undang-undang yang perlu, kita akan gunakan tapi yang paling penting tidak berlaku penyalahgunaan undang-undang.
"Kita bukan berpolitik apabila bercakap soal keselamatan. Itu sahaja yang saya boleh minta daripada polis dan sekarang ini imej polis adalah sangat baik, kita tak mahu imej polis tercemar oleh pertimbangan yang lain," katanya sambil meminta isu itu tidak dipolitikkan.
Resolving problems will show KL sensitive – UPKO
KOTA KINABALU May 27, 2011: Former deputy chief minister Datuk Wences Angang has called on the government to take affirmative action against issues affecting Sabah, such as the perennial illegal immigrant problem.
The United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) in a statement yesterday, said that resolving the problems would show the people of Sabah just how sensitive the federal government was to issues affecting the state.
“The next visit by a federal government leader should be by the Home Minister himself armed with a package to positively address the issues of illegal immigrants and the dubious issuance of MyKad to foreigners.
“And most importantly, the right legal option taken on this so-called ‘Sultan of Sulu’ to show that indeed federal leaders are sensitive to the problems faced by Malaysians in Sabah,” Wences stressed.
Wences also said that he fully supported UPKO deputy president and Tuaran member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M Bumburing’s call on the government and Home Minister to strip self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad of his Malaysian citizenship.
According to Wences, he was personally insulted by Mohd Akjan’s claim to be a descendant of the Sultan of Sulu.
Wences pointed out that Mohd Akjan’s claim is proof that he was not born in Sabah but in another country and is therefore an illegal immigrant.
“His (Mohd Akjan) status should not be the only one subjected to investigation … all those involved in giving him the citizenship and MyKad which allowed him to hold important posts in this country, including being a member of a political party, must also be investigated.
“This is also a mockery on the political party that accepted him in the first place,” he opined.
On the call by Bumburing for the government to revoke and nullify all citizenship and MyKads granted and issued to non-deserving foreigners, Wences stressed that it was a sincere and noble call representing the voice of Malaysian citizens in Sabah.
“We therefore fully support the struggle being continued by Bumburing despite the existence of certain quarters perhaps who are unhappy that this issue is being brought up unendingly by UPKO MPs in parliament.
“Along these lines, I urge all political leaders in Sabah who have been voicing out this issue only at a certain time and at a particular place just to suit their taste, to stand up and walk their talk,” he said.
Wences pointed out that Barisan Nasional (BN) is looked upon as the ruling government with the people’s interest at heart.
However, if the government hopes to get the people to listen to it and support its concept, it must listen to what the most pertinent issues are affecting the life of Malaysian in Sabah, be it social, cultural or the economy, that are being brought up by the state’s MPs on the people’s behalf.
KOTA KINABALU: Police have completed their investigation into the purported installation of the Sultan of Sulu here and have submitted the investigation papers to the Senior Federal Council, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said.
He said police had recorded statements from 31 people including businessman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad.
Akjan had reportedly been installed as the 33rd Sultan of Sulu in the presence of 60 people at his Kampung Likas house near here on Feb 2.
Since then, a series of police reports were lodged against Akjan, prompting the probe.
Police arrested Akjan in Kota Kinabalu on May 16 and a magistrate’s court issued a seven-day remand order against him.
Hamza said Akjan was released unconditionally on May 22.
Cops detain self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu
KOTA KINABALU May 16, 2011: Police have detained a businessman who, in February, purportedly installed himself as the Sultan of Sulu province in southern Philippines.
The man, Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, was held in the city here Sunday. He was produced before magistrate Noorhafizah Mohd Salim on Monday and remanded for seven days.
Noorhafizah issued the remand order following a request by investigating officer Asst Supt Azizul Mansor under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Police officials said Akjan was held to assist them in their investigations, following a series of police reports lodged against him in the wake of a ceremony at Akjans Kampung Likas house here, early February.
He was reported to have been installed the 33rd Sultan of Sulu in the presence of 60 people at the Feb 2 event.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib had said that police were investigating the matter under the Penal Code and Internal Security Act.
He said there was a possibility of Akjan committing an offence by installing and claiming himself as the Sultan of Sulu and holding dual citizenship.
Panel will boost 'FD' prospects
By: Tan Sri Herman Luping
THE BN government's policy of 1Malaysia, People's First and Performance Now became a reality in Sabah last week when the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak decided to listen to the call by Sabahans to scrap the proposed coal-fired power plant in the East Coast.
There was jubilation all around and praises were heaped on both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman for their forward-looking decision on the matter.
Musa himself explained in his speech at the Gerakan Chinese New Year open house held in a major hotel that he was very pleased when the Prime Minister finally made up his mind to scrap the coal fired power supply.
Gas fromBintulu, Sarawak, would be used for the purpose.
Environmentalists and other NGOs have been quick to praise the Chief Minister for his hand in getting the Prime Minister to change his mind concerning the use of coal to generate power in Lahad Datu and the East Coast.
Musa himself said that the fauna, the flora, the wild animals and also the pristine sea of Darvel Bay are all saved from the harmful effects of coal.
A letter writer to the Daily Express's Sunday Forum suggested that the Chairman of Tenaga Nasional, Tan Sri Leo Moggie should resign from his post for putting profits for his company first and endangering the environment in the East Coast of Sabah.
For now, Sabah is one State that is a shining example where the environment is considered more important than the production of power by the use of coal.
Many countries today who use coal to generate power are suffering from the effects of the devastation and pollution to the environment caused by coal generated power.
The countries are China, the United States and Australia.
They are gradually shutting down their coal-fired power plants in favour of more environmental-friendly power plant as a result.
The coal-fired power plants have emitted large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere thus aiding and assisting in the problem of climate change.
Sabahans, therefore, are grateful that their environment is safe.
And as Musa said, Sabahans know how to return the great favour when the time comes.
After all, he said, Sabah is a "fixed deposit" of the BN government and indeed would continue to be one for a long time. (Musa has indeed shown his leadership qualities in the last two general elections of 2004 and 2008.
The decision to listen to the peoples' views and opinion by adopting the policy of Peoples First slogan in respect of the need to preserve the environment would be seen by the people that the BN Government is genuine to place the peoples' interest first.
There is another issue that the people of Sabah are asking the Federal government leaders to consider and that is the call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of the large number of illegal immigrants in Sabah and equally large number of illegal granted Malaysian Identity cards.
Sabah leaders - from both sides of the political divide - have been very vocal for the call for the government to set up the RCI.
Amongst the first leader to call for the RCI was Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, the Federal Minister of Plantations and also the president of the KadazandusunMurut Party, Upko.
He was followed closely by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin, who is also the President of the PBS as well as the Huguan Siou of the Kadazandusun indigenous community.
(Upko's deputy president, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing also joined in the call for the setting up of RCI and warned that this issue could harm the BN image at the next election.
Opposition leaders too have also joined in the call for the same.
The reason why these leaders are calling for the RCI is because the people in Sabah wanted it. And in the case of Bernard, there is an added reason for his focus on the RCI call.
He was made the Chairman of the Select Parliamentary Committee to look into problems of integrity and the IC debacle; but the committee was not getting much support from the civil servants.
And the last straw for him was the continued absence of officials from the National Registration department.
They kept on making excuses for not attending.
And the issue to be discussed in the agenda was about the IC problem in Sabah.
No point in having the committee, he said and so he resigned from it.
Their supporters and indeed the people of Sabah wanted to know the reason/reasons for issuing the identity cards to the illegal immigrants from the Southern Philippines, who are mostly Bajau and Suluk.
Let me make it clear at the outset that a large number of Sabahans are descendants of ancestors from outside the State.
These ancestors are Suluks, Bajaus, Bruneis and Chinese and many more.
Today, the population of Sabah is roughly divided into two types of indigenous communities: the original indigenous - the Kadazandusun Murut and Brunei Malays and the immigrant indigenous, the foreigners.
And of course the Chinese. The original indigenous have been in Sabah for a thousand years; the immigrant indigenous and Chinese came over 200 years ago. They have become part of the country and are identified as "momogun" in the Kadazandusun language.
Until two years ago, the first original indigenous, Kadazadusun Murut were the largest single community in the State. But since the constitutional amendment was made to make all new converts to Islam and who live as the Malays, a choice to call themselves Malays, many have done so.
Besides, the addition of thousands of the former illegals from the Southern Philippines having Malaysian identity cards. The biggest single community in the new demography of Sabah are now the Malays.
This is not the chief concern by the Sabah leaders from both sides of the political divide.
The concern is the likely shift of loyalty from predominantly British colonial orientation in Malaysia to Filipino orientation. The British wanted to dismantle their colonial administration but they also wanted to continue their influence in the region - through friendship and club association.
This club is known as the Commonwealth whose head is still the Queen of Britain.
The British simply lumped us together with Malaya and became the State number 12 under the new nation name, Malaysia, replacing Malaya.
Indeed, for more than 200 years, our orientation was with Whitehall in London and the common laws of the British were also adopted.
We had a common and historical link with the British.
The Philippines meanwhile was orientated towards, first, Madrid in Spain, and later, the White House in Washington before that country became independent.
The fear then is that we might become part of a nation which is alien to us, alien to our historical beginning.
The fear, too, is that this shift in orientation might bring disability in the governance of our State .
Thus far, after nearly 50 years in Malaysia, the State has grown from strength to strength in political stability, as a democratic country and also in our economic development.
We do not want this to be jeopardised and hence the call for the RCI to the government in Kuala Lumpur.
Let the leaders in KL and in Sabah also look at this request as part of the Peoples' First, Performance Now policy.
Umno Sabah Mahu Sultan Sulu Dipecat
KOTA KINABALU, 17 Feb (Bernama) -- Umno Sabah mengesyorkan ahli perniagaan Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, yang mengisytiharkan dirinya sebagai 'Sultan Sulu Ke-33' baru-baru ini, dipecat daripada parti itu, kata Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
"Umno Sabah telah membuat ketetapan untuk mencadangkan kepada Majlis Tertinggi Umno supaya Mohd Akjan dipecat daripada Umno," kata beliau yang juga Pengerusi Perhubungan Umno negeri.
Musa berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Umno Negeri Khamis malam.
Beliau dikatakan telah diisytihar sebagai Sultan Sulu ke-33 dalam satu upacara tertutup di rumahnya di Kampung Likas di sini pada 2 Feb lepas, yang dihadiri sekumpulan 60 orang, termasuk pengikutnya dari wilayah Sulu.
11th February, 2011 KOTA KINABALU: Police are investigating a Malaysian businessman and former ISA detainee, Datu Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad who recently proclaimed himself as the Sultan of Sulu.
“We will conduct a probe under the Penal Code and ISA,” Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Hamza Taib told reporters here yesterday.
He also urged the local and national media to stop publishing articles on Akjan.
To a question, he said: “We want to find out the motive.”
He also said it was up to the relevant authorities including the National Registration Department to decide on Akjan’s Malaysian citizenship.
“There is no Sultan in Sabah except the Head of State,” he pointed out.
Hamza also said that by right, Akjan must relinquish his Malaysian citizenship because a person could not have dual citizenships.
Akjan, reportedly installed himself as the new Sultan of Sulu in a self-styled coronation in Sabah recently.
And, according to Hamza, the matter may provoke anger among the local people as well as Filipinos of Suluk descendants in the state.
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Failure to act against ‘Sultan of Sulu’ will encourage foreigners to come to Sabah‘Sulu sultan’ can’t have dual citizenship, say officials
The self-proclaimed interim government of the so-called Sulu Sultanate had announced that Kota Kinabalu-based businessman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad is a direct descendent of the last reigning Sultan of Sulu, Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Sultan Shariful-Hashim.
Mohd Akjan was installed as the 33rd reigning Sultan of Sulu at a private ceremony attended by a group of 60 people, including his followers from Sulu province, at his home in Kampung Likas here on Feb 2.
Malaysian officials said the move implied that Mohd Akjan – a former Internal Security Act detainee – may have dual citizenship. Under Malaysian law, this is not allowed.
Asked about this, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said: “People cannot have dual citizenships.
“Action can be taken against the businessman if the authorities find his action is a threat to public security.”
He added, however, that the Home Ministry has not received any report regarding Mohd Akjan.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk V.K. Liew said the Government would never recognise any self-proclaimed sultan, adding there had been many people claiming to be descendants of some sultanates.
“This is not an isolated case. It has happened in Malacca,” added Liew.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the police would investigate if a report was lodged against Mohd Akjan.
“We are prepared to investigate,” he said.
Hamza said Mohd Akjan’s move to declare himself a hereditary ruler would cause uneasiness among many people as it implied that he was seeking allegiance among the Suluk community (also called the Tausug, an ethnic group of Sulu and Malaysia).
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PM Kecewa Serangan Ke Atas Kedutaan Besar Malaysia Di Jakarta
PUTRAJAYA, 26 Ogos (Bernama) -- Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak turut melahirkan rasa kecewa atas tindakan penunjuk perasaan daripada kumpulan Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) melempar najis manusia ke kawasan Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Jakarta Isnin lalu.
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Anifah Aman berkata Perdana Menteri menzahirkan perkara itu dalam mesyuarat Kabinet semalam, setelah beliau memberi penjelasan terhadap apa yang berlaku.
"Sudah tentu beliau amat kecewa. Perdana Menteri berpendapat adalah salah bagi mereka bertindak sedemikian. Namun beliau mempunyai keyakinan dengan pihak berkuasa Indonesia, beliau yakin terhadap Presiden (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) bahawa perkara ini akan diselesaikan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan rombongan Duta Belia 2010 Indonesia di Wisma Putra di sini Khamis.
Anifah berkata mesyuarat Kabinet semalam sepakat untuk menyelesaikan perkara itu secara baik dan meminta rakyat Malaysia supaya bersabar dan bersikap rasional dengan mengelakkan kejadian yang sama di negara ini.
Anifah berkata Kementerian Dalam Negeri juga diminta untuk memastikan keselamatan warga Indonesia di negara ini tidak terjejas berhubung insiden itu.
Katanya Malaysia berharap Indonesia dapat mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap mereka yang melakukan "perlakuan keji" tersebut memandangkan tanah Kedutaan Besar Malaysia itu mempunyai keistimewaan dan kekebalannya sendiri sepertimana yang tertakluk mengikut Artikel 22 Konvensyen Vienna Mengenai Hubungan Diplomatik 1961.
Beliau berkata lebih-lebih lagi apabila Ketua Bendera itu sendiri mengakui melakukan perbuatan berkenaan dalam blognya, yang boleh dijadikan bahan bukti.
"Jika ia salah di sisi undang-undang Indonesia, saya harap tindakan akan diambil terhadap mereka yang terlibat. Tetapi saya bukannya mahu mengajar Indonesia mengenai apa yang mereka harus lakukan mengikut undang-undang mereka. Kita menghormati," katanya.
Dalam kejadian berkenaan, penunjuk perasaan daripada kumpulan Bendera dipercayai bertindak sedemikian bagi menandakan kemarahan terhadap Malaysia terutama berhubung penangkapan tiga pegawai Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan Indonesia yang didakwa menceroboh ke kawasan perairan Malaysia baru-baru ini.
Anifah berkata Malaysia bagaimanapun tidak mengharapkan Indonesia memohon maaf terhadap kejadian yang berlaku itu, memandangkan ia hanya perbuatan segelintir pihak dan bukannya mewakili seluruh rakyat dan kerajaan Indonesia.
Pada masa sama, beliau berkata Malaysia juga tidak akan meminta maaf atas insiden penangkapan tiga pegawai Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan Indonesia itu, walaupun benar mereka telah digari dan dipakaikan baju banduan.
"Kalau betul mereka digari dan sebagainya kita tidak meminta maaf kepada sesiapapun sebab itu adalah undang-undang negara kita, dan sesiapapun yang masuk ke negara Malaysia haruslah menghormati undang-undang Malaysia," katanya ketika diminta mengulas permintaan Parlimen Indonesia agar Malaysia meminta maaf kerana menggari dan memakaikan baju banduan kepada tiga petugas KKP itu.
Bagaimanapun, Anifah berkata beliau sedia berbincang dengan Kementerian Dalam Negeri untuk menyemak semula prosedur berkenaan sekiranya ia tidak mendatangkan manfaat kepada mana-mana pihak, memandangkan pencerobohan kawasan itu bukanlah jenayah yang berbahaya.
Dalam perkembangan lain Anifah berkata pihak media, dari kedua-dua Malaysia dan Indonesia juga harus bertanggungjawab dengan laporan masing-masing, dengan memberi laporan yang tepat berdasarkan fakta dan menjaga sensitiviti antara negara.
"Saya menyokong kebebasan media, tapi janganlah kebebasan media itu sehingga mengundang masalah yang lain. Janganlah kebebasan media itu digunakan oleh orang yang punya agenda yang lain," katanya.
Sabah flag incident: 'Sultan of North Borneo' ordered to enter defence
LAHAD DATU: The self-proclaimed sixth sultan of North Borneo, Datu Abdul Rajak Bin Datu Aliuddin, and 10 others were ordered to enter their defence by a magistrate's court here recently for alleged illegal assembly.
Magistrate Amir Shah Amir Hassan, who presided over the case, held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against all the accused under alternative charge of Section 27(5) (a) of the Police Act, 1967, for illegal assembly.
He, however, discharged all the accused under Section 143 of the Penal Code for the same offence after prosecution failed to prove the accused had committed the act.
The self-proclaimed sultan will also have to file his defence on the charge of burning Sabah flags in a public area under Section 435 of the Penal Code after the court admitted witness testimony that he gave the order to burn the flags.
Three others jointly charged with him were given a discharge due to weaknesses in the witnesses' testimony against them.
The magistrate set Sept 20 to 24 for the accused to enter their defence.
The 12 allegedly involved in the incident were: Datu Abdul Rajak Bin Datu Aliuddin, his brothers Datu Abdul Pasaran Bin Datu Aliuddin and Datu Jul Asri Bin Datu Aliuddin, nephew Datu Amiru Bin Datu Pelair, Datu Nizam Asyikim Bin Abdul Wahab, follower Mohd Isa Sally Bin Panut, Mohammad Hafiz Bin Jaffar, Hazrul Bin Jaffar, Mohiddin Bin Musidih, Jifri Nunui, Junior Bin Oribello and Puleh Bin Karim.
They were all charged with illegal assembly and the burning of Sabah flags in front of Milimewah shopping centre here at 9.27am on April 4, last year.
The group was arrested and detained shortly after the incident outside the district police headquarters here. One of them, Junior Bin Oribello, was however deported to the Philippines, his country of origin, for not having a valid travel document.
They are charged under Section 143 of the Penal Code with illegal assembly, or alternative charge under Section 27(5) (a) of the Police Act, 1967.
If found guilty under Section 143, each of them will face imprisonment of not more than six months, or fine, or both, while under Section 27(5)(a) each of them will face a fine of not less than RM2,000 or not more than RM10,000, or imprisonment of not more than a year.
Besides Datu Abdul Rajak, the other three -- Datu Abdul Pasaran, Datu Jus Asri and Mohammad Hafiz -- were also accused of burning Sabah flags and jointly charged under Section 435 of the Penal Code and faced seven years jail if convicted of the offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Niat Andi Sanrang had called a dozen witnesses in the hearing at the prosecution stage, which commenced on Jan 14 and will closed its case on Aug 6.
District Special Branch chief, ASP Osri Sarikul, with dozens of police personnel were at the court premises to ensure a smooth hearing.
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'Neither here nor there' man jailed
Kota Kinabalu: A man who declared himself as a subject of the "Sultanate of Sulu" was jailed a year and ordered to be given three strokes of the rotan by the Session Court, Wednesday, for illegal entry.
Titing bin Imam, 29, from Kg Tambalang, was penalised under Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act for failure to procure identification papers.
What he had was a small piece of laminated paper which stated that he is a "citizen of the Sultanate of Sulu".
Titing told the court he was neither a citizen of Malaysia nor Philippines but from a country called "Tausuk". He said the document he possessed served as his birth certificate, his identification card and passport.
"I am a citizen of Sulu. I am not Filipino nor Moro. My language is Sulu and my lord is the Sultan of Sulu."
Upon hearing his conviction from the High Court Deputy Registrar Zaini Fashir, Titing exclaimed: "Why my lord? I am innocent. I have produced all that I had. My nationality is that of Tausuk."
Also arrested together with him on Nov 22, 2008, were four others.
Their offence falls under Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act and they are allowed to appeal.
Prosecuting officers Rosli Sulaiman and Jaesman Gipin of the Immigration department stated that this was the first such case they had encountered.
A similar fate awaits those who belong to a nation that does not exist.
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ROYAL HASHEMITE SULTANATE OF SULU ROYAL HASHEMITE SULTANATE OF SABAH
Lahad Datu December 16, 2009: Four local men, including three brothers, were charged in the Magistrate's Court here with burning the State's flag eight months ago.
Datu Abdul Rajak Datu Aliudin, Datu Abdul Pasaran Datu Aliudin, Datu Jul Asri Datu Aliudin and Mohamad Hafis Jaafar pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Amirshah Amir Hassan to committing the offence at 9.27am around the town here on April 4, this year.
According to the charge, the four allegedly committing mischief by fire with intention to cause damage to the State flag to the amount of RM50 or upwards.
The offence comes under Section 435 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to seven years and liable to fine on conviction.
The court offered them bail at RM2,000 each pending mention of their case on Jan. 14, next year to fix the hearing date.
In a related case, the four men together with seven other local men were charged with being members of an unlawful assembly at the same place same time.
Abdul Rajak, Abdul Pasaran, Jul, Hafis, Datu Amirul, Mohd Isa Sally, Hasrul Jaffar, Muhiddin Norsidin, Junior Oribello, Mohd Jeffry Runui, aged between 20 and 40, and a 15-year-old boy claimed trial to the charge.
They were jointly charged under Section 143 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to six months or fine or both on conviction.
The 11 also face another alternative charge of taking part in an assembly which against the law at the same place same time as framed under Section 27(5)(a) of the Police Act 1967. They denied the charge.
Amirshah released them on a bail at RM1,500 each and set Jan 14, next year for mention to fix the hearing date.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Hanafi Basri appeared for the prosecution.
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Kota Kinabalu: It is disheartening to see the leaders of Sabah arguing about the issuance of Permanent Residence (PR) status to Malaysians, which foreigners in Sabah have all this while been enjoying, said political activist, Dr Chong Eng Leong.
The last few days, he said BN component parties like LDP and PBS as well as opposition, SAPP had been giving their opinion on work permits and PR for Malaysians from the peninsula and Sarawak.
"They touch on protecting Sabah rights and interests. Well, last year Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Nazri Mohamed revealed that thousands of IMM13 holders or so-called refugees in Sabah were given PR status without the State Government's knowledge let alone consent.
"We, rakyat of Sabah vigorously protested followed by the State Government and only then the issuance of PR stopped but nothing about revocation since from the first place it was illegal without Sabah's consent."
And now, Dr Chong said, they talk about protecting Sabah's rights and interests.
"Not to forget foreigners in Sabah already outnumber us locals, hundreds in possession of Project ICs.
Our sovereignty is at stake and yet they argue about PR for Malaysians in Sabah.
"Don't they know that Sabah is sitting on a time bomb?," he asked.
Misuari wants Malaysia out of talks
“Malaysia is not the right mediator in this case, they cannot render justice to our case with respect to Sabah, it is well known that Sabah belongs to our people,”
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“I don’t understand why a country like Malaysia, with whom we are technically in conflict with, was allowed to penetrate our kitchen, counting the kitchen knives we have and they are running soldiers around and this is not to the best interest of our country,”
North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol
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“We have over a hundred countries [which could help] here and we have our criteria, considering the conflict of interest with Malaysia, we need to consider other foreign players here,”
earlier suggestion of Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat that Indonesia can be part of the talks should be considered.
Doctor Grace Rebollos, president of the Western Mindanao State University
PALSU ... Husaini menunjukkan salah satu Mykad yang disyaki telah diubah-suai serta peralatan membuat dokumen palsu.
17th April, 2009
TAWAU: Tiga pengawal keselamatan ditahan oleh Pasukan Gerakan Marin Tawau (PGMT) ekoran disyaki menggunakan MyKad palsu dan hasil penahanan mereka, PGMT turut menyerbu sebuah rumah di Batu 5, Jalan Apas Tawau dan kemudiannya menemui pelbagai dokumen lain yang turut disyaki palsu.
Dokumen-dokumen yang ditemui terdiri daripada 9 MyKad, 9 keping Kad Pengenalan Bunga Raya, 11 keping lesen memandu, 11 keping lesen memandu kenderaan barang-barang Malaysia (GDL) dan 5 keping lesen memandu kenderaan perkhidmatan awam.
Turut ditemui ialah 2 unit dater stamp, 1 unit dakwat setem, 10 keping gambar, 85 keping kertas pelekat (laminating film)dan 1 set cop jari.
Pegawai Pemerintah PGMT DSP Husaini Zainal Abidin berkata, kejayaan itu berlaku pada Rabu lepas (15 April 2009) apabila dua anggota PGMT menahan seorang daripada pengawal keselamatan tersebut pada kira-kira jam 7.20 malam, di kawasan berhampiran sebuah kilang di Batu 3, Jalan Apas Tawau.
Hasil pemeriksaan katanya, suspek, 51, telah menunjukkan MyKad bernombor 580102-12-5255, atas nama Ibrahim Damang.
Bagaimanapun, apabila MyKad tersebut diperiksa menggunakan pembaca MyKad, nama yang tertera ialah Konens Mauris dengan nombor MyKad 910602-12-6157.
Berikutan itu, suspek kemudiannya dibawa balik ke Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Tawau dan hasil siasatan, polis berjaya menahan suspek kedua yang bertugas sebagai seorang pengawal keselamatan di sebuah syarikat gergasi di Batu 5, Jalan Apas Tawau, pada kira-kira jam 8.20 malam, hari yang sama.
Suspek kedua yang berusia 20-an katanya, turut telah menunjukkan seke-ping MyKad bernombor 800308-12-5063 ketika diperiksa, namun cip pada MyKad tersebut tidak dapat dibaca menggunakan pembaca MyKad.
Selain itu katanya, bayangan gambar yang tertera juga tidak jelas sementara perkataan ‘Warganegara’ pada MyKad tersebut tidak tertulis seperti yang sepatutnya.
Husaini memberitahu, pada malam yang sama iaitu kira-kira jam 8.50 malam, PGMT membuat satu lagi serbuan ke sebuah rumah tidak bernombor, berhampiran Batu 5, Jalan Apas Tawau.
Di rumah itu katanya, pihaknya menahan seorang lagi suspek yang berusia 20-an, setelah dia menunjukkan sekeping MyKad bernombor 840820-12-6197 atas nama Herman Pallu.
Bagaimanapun, wajah di dalam MyKad tersebut tidak menyerupai wajah sebenar suspek.
“Setelah menahan ketiga-tiga mereka, akhirnya sepasukan anggota PGMT menyerbu pula sebuah rumah tidak bernombor, berhampiran di kawasan Kg. Kinabutan, Batu 5, Jalan Apas Tawau pada kira-kira jam 9.30 malam. Serbuan diketuai oleh ASP Krishan a/l Rama-samy,” katanya.
Bagaimanapun begitu ujarnya, tiada sesiapa berada di dalam rumah berkenaan kerana penghuninya dipercayai telah melarikan diri.
Namun demikian, pihaknya katanya berjaya menemui satu bekas plastik putih di kawasan luar rumah, yang mengandungi kesemua dokumen dan peralatan berkenaan.
“Kita percaya ini adalah satu sindiket tetapi kita masih lagi menjalankan siasatan lanjut. Ketiga-tiga pengawal keselamatan tersebut pula kini ditahan di bawah Peraturan 25 (1) (e), Peraturan Pendaftaran Negara 1990,” kata beliau.
Husaini turut melahirkan penghargaannya kepada orang awam kerana kejayaan itu jelasnya adalah hasil daripada maklumat yang diberikan kepada pihaknya.
“Bagaimanapun, kita minta masya-rakat terus memberikan kerjasama sekiranya mereka mempunyai sebarang maklumat lain mengenai kes ini,” katanya.
Kesemua dokumen yang dirampas katanya akan diserahkan kepada jabatan-jabatan yang berkaitan, untuk ditentu-sahkan kesahihannya.
He said stern action would be taken against those who showed disrespect for the State or national flags.
"Whatever grievances one may have, burning flags will not be tolerated by us. We must all uphold our State and national flags with the highest esteem," he said.
He was commenting on the recent burning of six Sabah flags at two places in Lahad Datu.
Noor Rashid said what happened in Lahad Datu was initiated by a small group of people who were instigated by one person.
"They is no cause for alarm over the incident. Police are well prepared to ensure peace and security is maintained. To those who have any thought of trying to show any disrespect to our flags, my advice is, don't ever try, as we (police) will not tolerate such behaviour," he said.
Published on: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Kota Kinabalu: The Home Affairs Ministry has revoked the publication permit of a local-based weekly, "Suara Tausug", also known as "The New Sulu Times".
Its Publication Control and Al-Quran Texts Division acting director, Yatimah Rabuan said the division received an official directive from its headquarters in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, on the matter last month.
She said the division has been instructed to take legal action against any vendor and the publisher found selling the paper to the public after March 23.
They can be charged under Section 5 of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984. Each offender can be fined up to RM20,000 or maximum five years' jail or both, upon conviction.
"The letter that we received from the Ministry did not state the reason the paper's permit was revoked. The division here was only told to enforce the order," Yatimah said, Monday.
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Published on: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Home Ministry is monitoring a weekly tabloid in Sabah called the New Sulu Times (Suara Tausug) which has been in circulation since the middle of this year.
Acting Director of the Ministry's Publication Control and Al-Quran Text Division, Yatimah Hj Rabuan (pic), said they had allowed the paper to continue after checking the contents.
"We found the items published in it were according to the guidelines set in their permit," she said after a Home Ministry Hari Raya Open House, Tuesday. "We also require the tabloid to send four copies of its publication to our office here and to our Putrajaya headquarters (in Kuala Lumpur)."
Nevertheless, they were constantly keeping an eye on the reports in the tabloid, as what they do with other publications, she said.
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6th August, 2008
KOTA KINABALU: DAP MP for Kota Kinabalu, Dr Hiew King Cheu has asked the Home Ministry whether it has issued a permit for a foreign publication called “Suara Tausug” or “The New Sulu Times” here.
Sold at RM1.80 per copy, the 12-page publication is written in the Tausug language and in Malay.
A copy of the publication was handed to him by a concerned member of the public yesterday.
Dr Hiew noted that the sale of the said publication had raised deep concern among the general public, especially with the revival of the ‘Sabah Claim’ issue by certain quarters, as recent as last month.
“The general reaction of the public toward the sale of Suara Tausug was that it could pose a threat to our sovereignty and security and so it should not be allowed to be published in Sabah, let alone selling it in the public,” he said in a statement issued here yesterday.
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