Petronas asset seizure: Requests for emergency debate mount
Several opposition MPs have sought an emergency Dewan Rakyat debate over the seizure of Petronas' assets by purported descendants of the Sulu sultanate who are claiming US$14 billion from Malaysia.
As of 5pm today, Salahuddin Ayub (Pakatan Harapan-Pulai), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) and Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan- Bukit Gelugor) have...
Several opposition MPs have sought an emergency Dewan Rakyat debate over the seizure of Petronas' assets by purported descendants of the Sulu sultanate who are claiming US$14 billion from Malaysia.
As of 5pm today, Salahuddin Ayub (Pakatan Harapan-Pulai), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) and Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan- Bukit Gelugor) have shared their written request that was sent to the Dewan Rakyat speaker's office.
Isnaraissah, a Sabah lawmaker, argued that the seizure was a violation of Malaysia's sovereignty and gave the claimants an apparent win.
"This can potentially cause chaos in Sabah. Once again, Sabah is at risk of never-ending security threats," she said in her letter to Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun, explaining why the matter is of "urgent public importance" and thus necessitating the attention of the august house.
Ramkarpal told Azhar that he wished to seek explanations from the executive on how the claimants managed to obtain court orders to seize the assets at a time when Malaysia is challenging their arbitration award.
"I will also ask questions on the latest development in Malaysia's appeal against the arbitration award and application to suspend the execution of the award," said Ramkarpal.
Salahuddin argued that the public deserved an explanation because Petronas’ assets belonged to the public.
"The matter should be expedited with the prime minister providing an explanation on what legal measures had been taken and being taken by the attorney-general and Petronas," he said.
Luxembourg seizes assets worth US$2b
Yesterday, London-based Financial Times reported that the purported heirs of the Sulu sultanate - who are claiming US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) from Malaysia - seized two Luxembourg-incorporated subsidiaries of Petronas.
Lawyers of the claimants seized Petronas Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz) and Petronas South Caucasus, reportedly worth US$2 billion.
The lawyers said bailiffs in Luxembourg seized the holding companies on behalf of their clients yesterday.
The purported descendants of the last Sulu sultan, Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, are claiming the astronomical sum from Malaysia following an arbitration process.
The arbitration process was initiated in response to Malaysia cutting off the annual lease payments of RM5,300 to the Sulu sultanate in 2013 in the wake of a bloody incursion in Lahad Datu in eastern Sabah by a militant group from the Philippines claiming to represent the Sulu sultanate.
It resulted in 57 militants killed, together with six civilians and 10 members of the Malaysian security forces.
Malaysia did not participate in the arbitration process in France, arguing that the dispute between Malaysia and the claimants was not a commercial contract and thus not subject to arbitration.
