Malaysia Wins Sulu Case At The Hague High Court, PM Anwar Ibrahim Praises Ministers

Screenshots of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) accompanied by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Hague High Court won the Malaysian government in a lawsuit case by a person claiming to be the heir to the North Sulawesi Sultanate. The High Court of The Hague refused to recognize the final award issued through an illegal arbitration process and was misused by the plaintiff. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the decision in the Netherlands also prevented any attempt by the plaintiff to declare an illegal claim against the Malaysian Government. The decision of the Hague High Court is another important victory for the Malaysian Government following the Paris High Court's decision on June 6, 2023. The Malaysian government, according to Anwar, believes that with this decision, the government is getting closer to completely canceling the illegal and misused award finals by the plaintiffs, with demands of nearly 15 billion US dollars (approximately Rp225.19 trillion) issued by arbitrary Dr. Gonzalo Stampa and at the same time making the claim only part of history. Malaysia believes that the decision of the Court of Appeal of The Hague, along with the Paris Court of Appeals' recent decision, will end the plaintiff's futile efforts to enforce the final verdict in other countries. Until now, said PM Anwar, the Malaysian government has never stopped in its efforts to protect national sovereignty, security, and national interests. The Sulu case proves a marked violation of Malaysia's sovereignty immunity which is important for every Malaysian citizen of MADANI. “I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Special Secretariat who is also Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Azalina Othman, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Home Affairs Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Attorney General Idrus Harun and all relevant ministries and agencies, including international lawyers and all those involved in this business,” Anwar said in a written statement received in Kuala Lumpur, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 27. He said the Malaysian government would continue its efforts in various ways against the exploitation and abuse of international arbitration systems, including taking any action it needs to regain all legal costs from national financial resources that must be incurred in handling these demands.