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KUALA LUMPUR – PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli says he will file a police report against Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the latter’s alleged failure to address the claims made by heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate over Sabah.
In a statement, Rafizi said the report will be filed at the Setiawangsa police station tomorrow, accompanied by PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The former Pandan MP said the report touches on Najib’s “negligence” that led to the country facing billions of ringgit in claims by the heirs.
Rafizi added that he had last week shown how the problem “inherited” by the past three administrations had begun during Najib’s tenure in office.
He said after the country became more aware of the RM9 billion in Petronas assets being seized recently, Najib had rushed to shift the blame on to the governments that came after him, although court documents – such as the notice of intention to commence arbitration dated November 2, 2017, showed that a notice was sent to his administration.
“The claim also began after his (Najib’s) administration ceased making payments to the Sulu sultanate in 2013.”
Due to this, he said Najib should be held responsible for his “failure” and “negligence” between 2013 and 2017, which led to the claims that have burdened his successors.
He said Malaysia’s laws allowed its people to take legal action, whether through the Penal Code or through the civil courts, against any public servant who was negligent in carrying out their duties.
Rafizi also urged all of PKR’s divisions nationwide to file similar police reports, and encouraged others from its Pakatan Harapan allies, such as Amanah and DAP grassroots members, to do the same.
Last Friday, the cabinet agreed to set up a special task force to examine, monitor, and formulate appropriate legal action to address the claims by the heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (sultan of Sulu) against the Malaysian government.
In a statement, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed that the task force will be led by himself.
Other members, he said, include Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and international arbitration experts.
Malaysia received a stay on the US$15 billion (RM64 billion) awarded to heirs of the Sulu sultanate after a French court found its enforcement could infringe on the country’s sovereignty.
The Financial Times had earlier reported that the Luxembourg-registered subsidiaries of Petronas, Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucus, which the company manages in Azerbaijan, were seized by bailiffs on behalf of the defunct sultanate’s descendants. – The Vibes, July 18, 2022