Sulu sultanate: Pinoy voters in Sabah harassed

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos in Sabah were harassed into voting for the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the sultanate of Sulu said yesterday.

Abraham Idjirani, sultanate spokesman, said following the BN victory, they will have to strengthen their assertion that Sabah belongs to the sultanate of Sulu.

“There was massive harassment of voters in Sabah,” he said.

“They took advantage of the current issue in Sabah. Many Filipino voters who were identified as against BN were harassed. That contributed to their victory.”

Idjirani said Prime Minster Najib Razak’s opponent, Anwar Ibrahim, was sympathetic to the sultanate’s cause.

“He seemed concerned,” he said.

Idjirani said following BN’s victory, the standoff between Malaysian security forces and the sultanate royal security force could still change for the better.

“It would depend on the policies to be implemented by the new government,” he said.

Idjirani said sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III has appealed for unity among the ranks of Sulu datus following the victory of BN.

“To unite efforts for obtaining justice and liberation of Sabah from Malaysia”s internal colonization,” he said.