**So-called Sulu Heirs Fail in Final Bid to Challenge French Ruling**
In a decisive blow to the long-standing claims of the self-proclaimed heirs of the Sulu Sultanate, a French court has rejected their final bid to challenge a ruling that dismissed their attempt to seize Malaysian assets in France.
The dispute, which has its roots in the late 19th century, revolves around the claim of the Sulu heirs that Malaysia has failed to pay the annual cession money of 5,300 Malaysian ringgit (approximately $1,200 USD) to the heirs, as stipulated in the 1878 agreement between the Sultan of Sulu and the British North Borneo Company. The agreement granted the company control over the territory now known as Sabah, Malaysia, in exchange for the annual payment.
In 2018, the Sulu heirs, who claim to be the descendants of the Sultan of Sulu, launched a series of court actions in various countries, including France, in an attempt to seize Malaysian assets abroad. The move was seen as a last-ditch effort to press their claims, which had been consistently rejected by Malaysian authorities.
However, their attempts were met with resistance from the Malaysian government, which maintains that the annual payments were made until 1936, when the British government, which then controlled Malaya, converted the payments into ordinary allowances. Malaysia gained independence in 1957 and later formed the country we know today in 1963.
In 2020, a French lower court ruled in favor of Malaysia, dismissing the Sulu heirs’ claims on the grounds that they had failed to demonstrate a clear and direct interest in the assets they sought to seize. The court also found that the 1878 agreement did not imply a right to seize assets abroad.
Undeterred, the Sulu heirs appealed the decision to the French Court of Cassation, the highest court in France. However, in a recent ruling, the Court of Cassation upheld the lower court’s decision, rejecting the Sulu heirs’ final bid to challenge the ruling.
The Court of Cassation’s decision was based on the grounds that the Sulu heirs had failed to provide sufficient evidence of their claims, and that the 1878 agreement did not confer on them the right to seize assets abroad. The court also noted that the Sulu heirs had not demonstrated a clear and direct interest in the assets they sought to seize.
The Malaysian government has hailed the decision as a “victory for Malaysia” and a vindication of its long-held position that the Sulu heirs’ claims are baseless. The decision is expected to have significant implications for other court actions launched by the Sulu heirs in different countries.
In a statement, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said, “The decision by the French Court of Cassation is a clear victory for Malaysia and a testament to the country’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The Sulu heirs, on the other hand, have vowed to continue their fight, despite the recent setback. In a statement, their lawyer said, “We will not give up our fight for justice and will continue to explore all available options to press our claims.”
The long-standing dispute between the Sulu heirs and the Malaysian government has significant implications for the region, particularly in terms of territorial integrity and national sovereignty. The recent decision by the French Court of Cassation is likely to be seen as a key victory for Malaysia, but it is unlikely to be the final chapter in this protracted saga.
As the Sulu heirs vow to continue their fight, the international community will be watching closely to see how this complex and contentious issue unfolds.