Malaysia: No racial issue in terrorism case vs 8 Kiram followers

(Updated 2:49 p.m.) - Malaysian officials maintained there is no racial issue in the prosecution of eight followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III before a Malaysian high court on Thursday. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said they focused on the offense committed by the eight involved, according to a report on Malaysia's The Star Online. "For me, it is not a question of race, it is a question of terrorism. Don't forget, there are also our people (charged for terrorist activity)," he was quoted in the report as saying. A separate report of The Star Online quoted Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin as saying that even if Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram – the sultan's brother – were Malaysian as a local political party claimed, Agbimuddin would not be treated differently. "A terrorist is a terrorist, whether he is a Malaysian or not ... What is important is that he has done something against the country. That is my consideration ... whatever action we take is based on the sovereignty and security of the country," he said. On Thursday, eight Filipino followers of Kiram were charged before the high court for terrorism. Two of the eight face a possible death penalty as they were slapped additional charges of waging war against the king. Hooland Kalbi, one of the eight, however, told a Malaysian high court Thursday he was "asked and paid" to go to Sabah and fight, Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency reported. But in illustrating his point that Malaysia was not playing the racial card, Gani cited the case of a Malay, Yazid Sufaat, who he said was charged with inciting terrorism in Syria. He also said he would not be surprised if there were people from other races who joined the "terrorists." "In law we do not look from that aspect (ethnicity). I am not surprised if there are other people (other races) who have joined (the terrorists)," he said. Besides, he said everyone wanted to see justice done, and the guilty should be held accountable. Agbimuddin's citizenship   Meanwhile, Hishammuddin downplayed claims by the PKR party that Agbimuddin may have Malaysian citizenship and may have worked in the Kudat land and district office. The Star Online quoted PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli as claiming Wednesday there was "documented evidence" of Agbimuddin being Malaysian. He also claimed Agbimuddin worked as a junior administrative officer in Kudat in 1974. — LBG/KG, GMA News