Claiming Sabah

By DUCKY PAREDES
MALAYA

‘HM Sultan Muhd. Fuad I was proclaimed by the royal Datus and the Sharifs on 3 June 2006, as the 35th reigning sultan of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo/ Sabah.’

THIS is the situation: Crown Prince Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah explains that he merely returned to the Sultanate’s territory Sabah. Malaysian police and Special Forces want the crown prince to return home. Rajah Mudah and about 1,000 of his followers, including armed men from what he called “Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo” left Simunul Island in Tawi-Tawi in speedboats and headed for Sabah.

Rajah Mudah described his action as not an act of aggression but a journey back home. Reports from Kuala Lumpur say Malaysian security forces have them surrounded.. Rajah Mudah says that he is communicating with Gen. Zul Kipli, head of the Special Branch of Sabah.

The Sultan of Sulu and Sabah Jamalul Kiram told his men men not to leave, since Malaysia “is only renting” Sabah from the heirs of the Sultanate.

That, in essence, is the story.

The former Sultan was Jamalul D. Kiram III. With his retirement, the succession rights of the sultanate were first disputed among his heirs. The dispute on the succession rights ended in November 11, 2012 when all claimants from the Kiram family met together in Sulu, ending their decade-long feud. Jamalul Kiram III declared Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram as the “crown prince”.

Born on July 16, 1938 in Maimbung, Sulu, he is the eldest son of the late Sultan Punjungan Kiram and Sharif Usna Dalus Strattan (both Sulu royals). He is from the direct lineage of the first Sultan of Sulu, Sharif ul-Hashim of Sulu from the Banu Hashem tribe, the direct descendants of Muhammad.

He studied in Jolo Central Elementary School from 1946-1951. He finished high school at the Sulu High School in 1955 and took-up pre-law from 1956-1958 at Notre Dame of Jolo. He received a Bachelor of Law degree from Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) in 1964.

The Sultan is married to Dayang Hadja Fatima Celia H. Kiram.

He was a member of the Ruma Betchara (Council of the Sultan) during the reign of his late uncle, Sultan Esmail Kiram (1962–1974). He acted as “Interim Sultan” during the absence of his father Sultan Punjungan Kiram.

Proclaimed in 1984 as 33rd Sultan of Sulu and crowned on June 15, 1986 in Jolo, Sulu, Kiram forged the century-old relationships between Sulu and China during the royal visit in Dezhou, Shandong Province, China in September 1999 with an 87-man entourage. The visit concluded with the signing of the agreement between Hebei Province and the Sulu Sultanate on agricultural technology exchange.

He also forged bilateral relationships between the Don Sasagawa Foundation of Japan and the Sultan Jamalul Ahlam Foundation. Sultan Jamalul Alam was the recipient of hospital equipment from Japan, which were in turn donated to the Sulu Provincial Hospital in 1992.

He is the one responsible for the release of American and German nationals from the captivity of the lost command of the MNLF in 1984.

He established livelihood programs in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Palawan through the Sulu-Marine and Seven Seas Corporations.

He is also the current president of the Philippine Pencak Silat Association.

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The Sultan of Sulu and Sabah is chosen from among the most capable and most suitable of the male heirs and direct descendants (sons or grandsons ) of H.M. Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I (Sultan of Sulu & Sabah 1947 to 1973).

He must be proclaimed by the Royal Datus and the Sharifs (descendants of Prophet Mohammed) of Sulu & Sabah, who decide who is the Reigning Sultan among the male heirs and direct descendants of HM Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I (as members of the Royal blood line of succession).

The successor must have at least five (5) ancestors who were consecutive Sultans of Sulu & Sabah.

Thus, it was decided that only Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram I fulfilled the law of succession!

HM Sultan Muhd. Fuad I is the last son of His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I (Sultan of Sulu & Sabah 1947-1973) and was proclaimed the most capable and most suitable among the male heirs;

HM Sultan Muhd. Fuad I was proclaimed by the royal Datus and the Sharifs on 3 June 2006, as the 35th reigning sultan of the sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo/Sabah;

The Sultan has seven consecutive ancestors who were Sultans of Sulu & Sabah; eight if including his brother H.M. Sultan Mahakuttah Abdulla Kiram, who was Sultan from 1974-1986.

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A reader in Boca Raton, Florida points out an error in my Monday column: Jake tells me that Juan Felix is my great-great grandfather; his son Lucas, the elder brother of Quintin, is my great-grandfather and Lucas’ son, Jesus, is our grandfather. Thanks, bro.

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