Kota Kinabalu: Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal says he is unaware of a letter former Attorney-General Tommy Thomas sent to lawyers representing the Sulu sultan’s heirs in 2019.
The former Sabah Chief Minister pointed out that he was not part of the federal Cabinet at the time and said he was not informed about Thomas’ letter.
“Don’t ask me, ask him (Thomas). I didn’t have the authority to direct the AG. If the then Prime Minister himself said he’s unaware (of the letter), what more the then Chief Minister.
“Ask Tommy Thomas,” he told reporters when queried about the matter at a press conference at the Warisan headquarters, Thursday.
Shafie was referring to the letter in which Thomas expressed regret that Malaysia had not paid the claimants since 2013 after the Lahad Datu intrusion. According to the letter, Thomas offered to settle the multi-billion dollar claim with a RM48,000 compensation payment.
Shafie maintained that there was no basis to the Sulu heirs’ claim and that Sabah’s sovereignty should be upheld.
“If we want to talk about history, Sabah was owned by the Brunei Sultan. After coming under British rule, there was no more question about this (payments to the Sulu Sultan),” said the Semporna MP.
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