Trouble in Paradise … "The Land Below The Wind"
Malaysia could be facing a prolonged “political crisis” in Sabah stemming from the Lahad Datu standoff, although the short-term
military situation is never in doubt.
A comprehensive political solution must be made as a long-term strategy to improve the situation in Sabah and bilateral relationship
with the Philippines.
To understand the dynamic of the current conflict, one must go back in time to the root cause of this crisis.
Sales or Lease
The leader of the group is the brother of Jamalul Kiram III, one of the two main claimants to the title of Sultan of Sulu.
It is a title that goes back more than 350 years predating the Philippines was an American colony, or a Spanish colony.
The two main sultanates in the region at the time were Sulu and Brunei. In 1658, the Sultan of Brunei gave Sabah to the Sultan
of Sulu - either as a dowry or because troops from Sulu had helped him quell a rebellion.
The sultan of Sulu has come to remind Malaysians that they still consider Sabah to be part of Sulu and, by extension, part of the
Philippines.
Political Horse Trading
The issue has been a stumbling block in relations between Malaysia and the Philippines for decades, and a factor behind the continuing
violence and instability on the islands of Sulu.
Successive Philippine presidents have pressed the sultanate's case, the most audacious being an attempt by the late President Ferdinand
Marcos to train and equip a secret Muslim militia to take Sabah by force.
The plan was leaked before it could be put into action, and the militia force was allegedly killed by the Philippine army in an attempt to cover
up the evidence. The massacre became one of the main triggers for rising Muslim discontent and the emergence of Muslim rebel groups
which are still around in the region today.
But under the current president, Benigno Aquino, the Sulu's ancestral rights have been put on the back burner.
Mr Aquino has been prioritising talks with the MNLF rebel group in the region and a framework peace deal in place for the first time in decades,
of course, facilitated by the Malaysians!
Biting the hand that feed you
Some of the automatic weapons used by the invaders can be traced back to the MNLF, who received the arms courtesy of Gaddafi through
Dr. M's Malaysia. Also, under Dr. M, Malaysia not only provided training for MNLF fighters, it also acted as safe haven and transit point for MNLF
leaders and fighters to and from their indoctrination and training bases in Afghanistan and Libya.
Nur Misuari, the leader of the MNLF, says that some of his men are also fighting alongside the Sulu gang.
Sowing the seeds
The center of gravity for this conflict is Lahad Datu of the Tawau province. Tawau has 26% of Sabah total population with the Malay ethnic group
in minority! The main native ethnic groups consisting of Bajau, Suluk, Ida'an and Tidong. 80% of the region trade is with the archipelago of Sulu
where traders trade and move freely for decades by small motorized sampans.
Worried about the political implication of a minority Malay ethnic group in the vastly resource rich state, Dr. M covertly introduced the Project IC in
1990s.
As the name implies, this is a clandestine project that involves the alleged citizenship drive to naturalize illegal migrants for political purposes and
targeted more specifically on Sabah.
Reaping the gain
Once the intruders had entered Lahad Datu, and after they had openly declared their intentions for intruding, why did the Malaysian Government not react
quickly enough to get them out?
Was it because the Government feared taking stronger action against these intruders who are Tausugs and closely related to the Suluks, who came from
the Philippines and are now settled in Sabah by the thousands as Malaysian citizens, might cause the latter to vote against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN)
at the upcoming general election? And perhaps not only the Suluks but also other Filipinos of other descent who have also become citizens?
Lesson to be learned (Sleeping with the enemy … a ticking time bomb)
As we strive for economic prosperity, as we mass import foreign talents, as we implement our own "Project IC"; we must NEVER ever forget the painful
lesson the Malaysians are now just learning ... KARMA!
