Pressure mounts for action on self-styled Sulu Sultan
Published on: Thursday, February 06, 2020
By: Sherell Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU: Former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Wilfred Bumburing refuted claims by self-proclaimed “Sulu Sultan” Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad that Kadazandusuns always insult those from the Philippines by labelling them as “pilaks”.
“We are against the presence of illegal immigrants but never insult anyone based on race,” he told a media conference, Wednesday.
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He said illegal immigrants in Sabah are not just from the Philippines but also Indonesia, China, India and Pakistan, etc.
“We have never targeted nor insulted any race. We are only fighting for the immigration laws to be tightened to rid illegals from our State,” he said.
The media conference was made in conjunction with a police report lodged at the Karamunsing Police Station against Akjan for his statement on natives in Sabah.
A huge crowd also came to support the call for action against Akjan.
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Datuk Lawrence Gimbang, who was also present, shared a similar view, saying “We are not targeting any specific race.”
“We have many friends from the Bajau Suluk community, I grew up having a lot of Bajau Suluk friends, all of whom are Sabahans and are good people.
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“What we are not happy with is the presence of illegal immigrants. We want the Malaysian Government to respect the Constitution. Nowhere in the world a government gives identity cards to illegal immigrants.
“Those from the peninsula are only given three months to stay here, but these illegals stay here for years. It is absurd,” he said.
“We want the Malaysian Government to take action, we want Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to take action. We want the law to be respected,” he added.
Also present was Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who also called for action against Akjan. He said more police reports will be lodged against Akjan across the State because no action has been taken by the Government to curb such provocation and instigation.
“What does Akjan mean by claiming that the Suluk are First Class Natives in Sabah? What does he mean when he said ‘jangan jolok sarang tebuan?’ What does he mean when he said that Kadazandusun don’t exist in the Constitution?”
“He is a self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, when we all know there is no Sultan Sulu in Sabah. This only shows that he intruded here,” he said.
“We want immediate action because inaction has raised fear and tension among the locals, especially with videos and recordings of his statement which appears to challenge Sabah’s harmony.”
He is also puzzled over Akjan’s confidence that the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) would be implemented despite both the State and Federal governments calling it off.
He said it appears as if he (Akjan) controls the (Home) Ministry and has authority.
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Sabah President, Dato Seri Raplin Samat , said Akjan shouldn’t link issues to race and religion.
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