Sulu sultan leaves doors open for talks with Philippine, Malaysian governments

Despite his defiance of President Benigno Aquino III's appeal for his followes to leave Sabah, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said he was willing to talk to the Philippine and Malaysian governments regarding the ongoing stand-off in Sabah between his followers and Malaysian authorities. "The door of the Sultanate of Sulu is open. Open to the Philippine government, open to the Malaysian government," Kiram said in an interview on GMA News TV's “State of the Nation with Jessica with Jessica Soho”. "Kung gusto ng Malaysia makipag-usap, talk about all these things regarding this issue, then my door is open for them, but not for me to get down to Sabah. They can choose any country, a neutral country, like for instance Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, yun," he added. However, Kiram stressed that their claim to Sabah is non-negotiable. "Bakit namin igi-give-up eh sinabi ko na nga, the poorest Sultan in the world. Wala kaming kaano-ano tapos ibibigay mo pa yung sayo," he said. Whatever happens, Kiram said, his followers will remain in Sabah. "Ang sa akin lang, ganito, mananatili sila diyan kung ano man ang mangyari kasi tapos na ang pinagusapan namin. Pinagusapan namin sabi ng mga kapatid ko, pabayaan niyo nalang kami," he said. "Sabi niya...tayo magpakamatay, magpakamatay for the sake of our country. Ganun ang ano ng kapatid ko. Kahit na I have to force him to get down, to come down," he added.  Sultan Jamalul Kiram's brother, Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, leads the armed group currently holed-up in Sabah. Rejecting 'cession money' Kiram had earlier rejected the president's appeal for him to order his followers to leave Sabah, insisting that they own the land by virtue of the 5,300 ringgit being paid to him yearly by the Malaysian government. "Talagang pera naman ang binibigay sa amin, that is a part of rental. Ang nagbabayad sila ng rental, sino binabayaran nila? Kami. Ibig sabihin, kami ang may-ari," Kiram said in the report. However, he explained that he has rejected the payment because it has been labeled in the receipt as "cession money." “Mayroong resibo. This was changed down into cession money. I rejected that. In my case I don't like to receive any amount of money. Actually, that money is very very small money. Mas mahal pa yung bayad mo sa tricycle. Kasi 'cession', the word 'cession,' I don't like. Ayaw namin," he explained. When pointed out that the Philippines doesn't seem interested in pursuing their claim to Sabah, Kiram explained that their claim has always been laid out for all to see. "This claim, matagal na. Nagpasensya nalang kami from the beginning. Sino bang ayaw pumunta sa mall, magshopping? Kami, we can't, natiis namin yan. Kahit anong makita namin, kahit dun nalang kami sa palengke o kaya sa talipapa," he said. "We are not asking so much. We are not. The last time we asked the Malaysian government at least itaas-taas ang rental, pero wala din nangyari," he added. Kiram challenged the Philippine government for their support., When questioned about the timing of their stand-off, the Sulu sultan said "this is the right time now, kung kami talaga tinuturing Filipino at tunay na Filipino, and we believe we are more Filipino than any Filipino in this country." — Amanda Lago/DVM, GMA News