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Good day, all.
Please be aware of the fake news spreading around social media about the Philippines claiming Sabah. You can play your part by NOT sharing fake news and understanding the history of North Borneo.
Sabah cannot be claimed by the Philippines for several reasons. Let me elaborate.
In 1885, Spain and Britain signed the MADRID PROTOCOL which confirms that all islands or properties PREVIOUSLY under the control of the Sultan of Sulu but held by the British would be awarded to the British.
This means that any use of the word "pajak" or "lease" in previous agreements signed BECOMES IRRELEVANT now as the Spanish, having conquered the Philippines had given the British sole custody of North Borneo and her islands.
This was further cemented under the Americans who conquered the Suluk Kingdom with the agreement signed in 1903 which confirms that the word MENYERAHKAN is included in the agreement to ensure there is NO CONFUSION with North Borneo being property under the British trading company and that there can no longer be any future claims for North Borneo by any parties.
Any monies paid as per the agreement in 1903 were compensation for the Suluk kingdom with no fixed timeline of payments nor adjustments for the increase in amounts payable.
The money previously paid by the British and subsequently the Malaysian governments were NOT LEASE payments.
Example: You sell your land to a willing buyer (buyer A). You sign a sale and purchase agreement to transfer the title of your property to buyer A. You then ask for an allowance paid to you but do not state for how long and if the amount of money will increase over time. Your agreement is with buyer A. Not with anyone else. Buyer A agrees.
Fast forward 60 years and Sabah joins the federation to form Malaysia. Sabah takes over ownership via independence from the British.
Is the Suluk allowance still payable since the British (buyer A) have handed over ownership of North Borneo to the natives of North Borneo (buyer 😎)?
This is debatable but clearly, the Malaysian government decided to carry on the payments on a goodwill basis until 2013 when the payments stopped.
So, if we keep things as simple as possible, do the heirs of Sultan of Sulu from 1903 have a claim on North Borneo?
No. This was reinforced twice in 2 agreements which ensured there was no confusion.
The first in 1885 and then again in 1903 which re-affirmed that there can be no claims in the future as these 2 agreements were much clearer in definition and in legal terms as to who owned North Borneo and who didn't. These 2 agreements made sure the Suluk Kingdom could not make future claims because they had given up any right to make a claim by signing the agreements in 1885 and again in 1903.
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| Avtar Þórr Singh ( Sejarah North Borneo / Sabah Moderator) |
So, please, before you let stories like this which are FAKE NEWS upset you, understand the true history of North Borneo which is lacking at the moment because our own school books do not educate our youth.
If you yourself understand the history and the agreements, you can correct others who are spreading fake news and causing confusion within the community.
Let us do our part to EDUCATE fellow Sabahan's and not to get upset by these fake news stories.
Thank you.
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