Sulu’s ‘crown prince’ to drop claims over Sabah

KOTA KINABALU,
Sept 29, 2015


A Sulu ”crown prince” Datu Mohd Kudhar SJ Kiram II is defying the recently departed Sultan Esmail Kiram II’s instructions, claiming that he had issued a directive to drop the Sultanate’s claims on Sabah.

Disclosing that he would be going back to the Philippines soon to inform the government of this decision, Datu Mohd Kudhar said they would instead focus on fighting for the independence of Sulu from the Philippines.

“I promise that there’ll will be no more intrusions in the future. We will no longer be issuing claims over Sabah as we already have a lot in our hands in fighting for the independence of Sulu from the Philippines.

“To add on ‘claiming Sabah’ on to our mission will be an unnecessary additional problem when we should instead be working on our independence,” the 69-year-old was reported as saying by The Borneo Post.

He also claims to be cousins with the recently departed Sultan Esmail Kiram II, who led an army of 200 followers to invade Sabah’s coastal village of Lahad Datu in February 2013.

A sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani told the Philippine media that Sultan Esmail Kiram II, who died at age 76 of kidney failure on Sept 19 at a hospital in southern Zamboanga city, left an order for his followers to pursue a claim to Sabah state in neighbouring Malaysia.

“One of his (Esmail) instructions was the pursuit of the Sabah claim through peaceful means for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Idjirani told the Associated Press.

His cousin, Kudhar, however, described the intrusion as a “heinous crime” and apologised to Sabahans for the confusion and chaos caused by the many individuals who claimed to be the Sultan of Sulu, defiling his grandfather’s name, one of which had led to a security crisis in the state.

The prince said that he is the son of Sultan Julaspi Kiram II, one of Jamalul Kiram’s children, adding that his relatives — the late Jamalul Kiram III and Esmail Kiram II — had nothing to do with the Kiram, because as he puts it: “No Kiram will ever do what they did.”

Vowing also to not interfere with the ongoing persecution of militants in the country, as “they have committed a serious crime against the King,” and should be dealt with by the laws of the country, he stressed that many innocent lives were lost as a result of their actions.

Esmail’s son, Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, in his 40s, was among those arrested and detained at the state prison in Kepayan and has been on trial since January last year for waging war against the King and being member of a terrorist group.

“We want to have harmonious and peaceful relations with our neighbouring country and states. That is why we vow that there will be no more intrusions,” Kudhar explained, adding that upon gaining their independence, he would be calling back the Suluks in Malaysia, of which he said numbered over a million in Sabah and about 300,000 in the Peninsular Malaysia, to go back to their country.

Now based in Manila, Kudhar also claimed that his father was the one who was in contact with the late Tun Mustapha Harun, Sabah’s first Head of State, and was even one of those who gave the blessings for the formation of Malaysia.

“My father didn’t want North Borneo to fall into the hands of the Christians, hence, rejecting the Philippine government. He agreed to Sabah jointly forming Malaysia because Malaysia is an Islamic country and was invited by the late Tungku Abdul Rahman to Jesselton in 1963.”

Claiming to be the chief of Muslims in all of Philippines, he also ordered his countrymen, the Suluks, residing in Malaysia to continue supporting the Barisan Nasional, particularly the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Sabah.


Sumber - The Rakyat Post

Asean must make bold decision to combat transnational crime: Zahid

By Nuradzimmah Daim and Hariz Mohd


KUALA LUMPUR: With transnational organised crime having gone global and reached macroeconomic proportions, Asean countries are at a critical juncture to decide whether they should also focus on new types of such crimes.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid said today the new types of crime are the illicit trades in nature and cultural heritage, wildlife, wood-based products, electrical and electronic waste, ozone-depleting substances, counterfeit goods and fraudulent essential medicines.

"In addition to the linkages of transnational crime with movement of people across borders, we also have to confront the rapid progress and evolution of transnational crime.

"In the present inter-connected world, transnational organised crime has gone global and reached macroeconomic proportions. Illicit goods can now be sourced from one continent, trafficked across another, and sold in third countries.

"These organised transnational crime continues to adapt alongside the frenetic pace of our times, as new crimes emerge, arise and maintained through relationships between criminal networks on a global level.

"Hence, we are now at a critical juncture to decide whether we want to retain the status quo, namely dealing with the eight existing areas of transnational crime that come under our purview which was included in the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) today.

"A bold decision has to be made due to new types of transnational crimes (such as those) reported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime," he said in his opening address at the 10th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC).

Zahid said Asean was also taking steps in the right direction to counter the development of transnational crimes through the proposal to adopt and sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime, which is due to materialise at the end of today's meeting.

He said the declaration has highlighted, among others, issues that need to be seriously considered by the ministers (of Asean member nations) such as the emergence of new forms of transnational crimes.

This includes the call for the formulation of a new Asean plan of action to combat transnational crime since the previous plan was adopted in 2002.

Zahid said the 10th AMMTC was also historic and unprecedented with a back-to-back gathering of the Special Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism scheduled for Friday.

"The said meeting on Oct 2 will afford the opportunity for Asean member states to share experiences and best practices, as well as to take stock of individual countries' challenges in countering radicalisation and violent extremism.

"We need to realise that law enforcement and stringent legislations are insufficient to deal with it in which strategic partnerships and outreach programmes need to be regularly conducted that draw participation from civil societies and private sectors."

Ahead of his opening speech, Zahid received a courtesy call from leaders of AMMTC and Asean deputy secretary-general Hirubalan Veluppilla Ponnudura.

The leaders are Brunei Energy Minister Datuk Dr Muhammad Yasmin Umar; Cambodia secretary of state Em Sam An; Indonesian police chief General Badrodin Haiti; Laos Public Security Minister Brigadier General Somkeo Sylavong; Myanmar Deputy Home Minister Kyaw Kyaw Tun; Philippines Public Safety Undersecretary Peter Irving C. Corvera; Singapore Second Minister of Home and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad; Thailand Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon; and, Vietnam Public Security Minister Tran Dai Quang.

Also present at the event were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim.


Sumber - New Straits Times

AGC: New corruption laws to tackle public office power abuse

Quratul-Ain Bandial
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


THE Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) yesterday announced the introduction of new corruption laws to address abuse of power and misconduct in public office.

The new laws will allow legal action to be taken against civil servants who fail to carry out their duties to a “high ethical standard”, said the AGC in a statement issued yesterday.

Following extensive discussions between the AGC and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, several amendments have been made to the Prevention of Corruption Act.

New offences have been included in the legislation, criminalising the use of public funds for private purposes; giving undue preferential treatment; misuse of information acquired during the course of duty; and allowing private interests to come into conflict with public duties.

The legislation also states that any public officer who seeks to interfere or influence the “appointment, promotion, suspension, demotion or dismissal” of any other public official, can be prosecuted under the new laws.

Similarly, any civil servant who demonstrates “willful misconduct or neglect of duty” to a degree which amounts to abuse of public trust, is considered guilty of an offence.

The punishment for all the new corruption offences is seven years’ jail and a $30,000 fine.

The AGC added that offences can be committed without the receipt of gratification or monetary benefit.

The legal definition of “public body” has also been changed in the legislation, to include government-linked companies and statutory bodies, such as the Brunei Economic Development Board, Brunei Shell Joint Ventures, Royal Brunei airlines, among others.

The new laws came after His Majesty, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, lambasted police for corrupt practices last March.

“The main purpose of the amendment is to address the concern of His Majesty… during a working visit (paid to the) Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Headquarters… in respect of corruption in the form of abuse of powers for personal interest,” said the AGC.

During the visit, His Majesty cited several cases of police corruption, including the case of a high-ranking police officer accused of accepting a luxury car from a convicted criminal in exchange for helping him cross the border illegally.

In a fiery address to police officers, the monarch accused RBPF personnel of “elements of lawlessness” such as involvement in gambling, drinking and smuggling banned goods, as well taking bribes to “look the other way”.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Goals have to be meaningful: HM

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam addressing the Plenary Session of the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015
Agenda in New York yesterday

New York
Sunday, September 27, 2015

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, consented to attend the Plenary Session of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Agenda here yesterday.

His Majesty, in the titah, said as the United Nations commemorates the 70th anniversary this year, it was very timely for the nations to reflect on their work since the Millennium Summit in 2000 and at the same time, look beyond 2015. His Majesty was encouraged by what had been achieved so far with the Millennium Development goals (MDGs).

His Majesty added that the world has witnessed a decline in extreme poverty, an increase in access to primary education in developing regions, and improvements in child as well as maternal health.

These showed that the target-oriented approach taken by the United Nations was both practical and feasible. His Majesty said that, at the same time, there has been different level of progress worldwide which means there is still much work to be done.

His Majesty was therefore pleased that the Secretary-General had presented a new development agenda, covering targets built upon the MDGs and also new objectives to address gaps identified over the past 15 years.

His Majesty felt reassured by the fact that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are people-centred, inclusive and comprehensive. They focus on people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.

His Majesty added that to achieve the goals, member states have to enhance individual and collective actions. His Majesty further added that they have to work in partnership through capacity building, learning from each other’s experiences, and sharing best practices.

His Majesty also stated that each country has a challenging task ahead, but was optimistic that with firm commitment, they will be able to deliver.

The monarch said it is for this reason that Brunei Darussalam always values cooperation with external partners both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Brunei Darussalam looks forward to further strengthening its relations with various UN agencies, to support national development plans that are in line with the SDGs. Brunei Darussalam also attaches great importance to the work of ASEAN towards realising an ASEAN Community by 2015.

His Majesty added that later this year, ASEAN will adopt its own Post-2015 Vision which will complement and support the global development agenda.

His Majesty further stated that the task now is to focus on the transition from the MDGs to the SDGs, particularly for developing countries. The monarch also agreed with the areas highlighted in the document, which present specific challenges. His Majesty recognised that member states all have different priorities and approaches.

The Sultan, however, saw a commonality in the commitment to place sustainable development at the core of this efforts to give people a better life. These include alleviating poverty, reducing inequalities, promoting quality education, addressing climate change, and achieving gender equality.

His Majesty said the SDGs have to be meaningful for every man, woman and child. It is especially crucial youths to be included because they stand to inherit the new agenda. His Majesty was therefore pleased that the new agenda has rightly emphasised the importance of youths. Furthermore, it will provide a platform for empowerment through initiatives such as the provision of universal access to quality education.

His Majesty also pointed out that investing in people is vital in the pursuit of the future the member states want, adding that they all aspire to create a better world for the peoples and future generations. His Majesty called on the member states to act boldly and urgently, saying the new agenda would provide a valuable roadmap to move forward. His Majesty stated that to succeed, peace and stability must be maintained. His Majesty concluded the titah by expressing support for the adoption of this Post-2015 Development Agenda, and is confident of its success.

Accompanying His Majesty were Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abd Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Second Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister’s Office; Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and His Excellency Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail, Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Wanita Brunei capai kemajuan ketara

NEW YORK, 27 Sept – Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam bertitah menyatakan bahawa para perempuan dan wanita di Negara Brunei Darussalam mempunyai peluang yang sama rata untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kemahiran, khususnya bidang-bidang yang sentiasa berkembang seperti ICT.

Dengan pendidikan yang progresif dan peluang pekerjaan yang sama rata, titah Baginda, para wanita telah pun mencapai kedudukan dalam bidang-bidang profesional termasuk perubatan, undang-undang, bisnes dan kejuruteraan.

Dalam tempoh satu dekad, penyertaan wanita dalam tenaga kerja telah meningkat daripada 59 peratus kepada lebih 70 peratus.

Oleh kerana hampir separuh daripada penduduk Negara Brunei Darussalam terdiri daripada wanita, sumbangan mereka ke arah pembangunan nasional amatlah penting.

Baginda menyatakan sedemikian semasa mengurniakan titah pada Sidang Kemuncak Pemimpin-Pemimpin Global Mengenai Kesetaraan Gender dan Memperkasa Wanita, di Conference Room 4, Ibu Pejabat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), New York, Amerika Syarikat, hari ini.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia mula-mula bertitah merakamkan ucapan terima kasih kepada Presiden Republik Rakyat China, Tuan Yang Terutama Xi Jinping, dan Setiausaha Agung PBB, Tuan Yang Terutama Ban Ki-moon kerana menjunjung dan menjemput Baginda menghadiri sidang kemuncak tersebut.

Baginda seterusnya bertitah menyatakan bahawa ucapan alu-aluan yang telah disampaikan oleh kedua-dua pengerusi berkenaan penuh inspirasi dan berpandangan jauh. Baginda juga bertitah merakamkan ucapan penghargaan kepada Presiden Republik Rakyat China atas inisiatif mengadakan mesyuarat bersama dengan UN-Women.

Baginda kemudiannya bertitah bahawa mesyuarat berkenaan diadakan tepat pada masanya iaitu bersempena dengan ulang tahun ke-70 PBB dan bagi menerima pakai Agenda Pembangunan Pasca-2015.

Kepimpinan Negara China dalam menerajui isu kesetaraan gender dan memperkasa wanita adalah sangat dihargai. Walaupun setelah lebih 20 tahun, Deklarasi Beijing (Beijing Declaration) dan Wadah bagi Tindakan (Platform of Action) masih diguna pakai sebagai sumber panduan dan inspirasi, selain menjadi rangka tindakan yang progresif bagi kemajuan wanita di mana sahaja. Baginda turut menghargai sumbangan negara-negara Mexico, Denmark dan Kenya kepada isu penting tersebut.

Baginda turut melahirkan rasa gembira mengetahui pembangunan wanita telah mencapai kemajuan yang ketara.

Bagi Negara Brunei Darussalam, Baginda menitahkan pengalaman dalam isu berkenaan adalah berasaskan kepada dasar menyediakan akses universal kepada pendidikan yang telah sekian lama berjalan untuk semua. Pada tahun 1950an, di bawah kepimpinan bijaksana Ayahanda Baginda, Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, pendidikan diberikan secara percuma tanpa mengira jantina.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia seterusnya bertitah melahirkan rasa gembira bahawa pada tahun lepas, Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (World Economic Forum) mengenai Jurang Gender Global (Global Gender Gap) telah melaporkan Negara Brunei Darussalam berada di kedudukan ke-7 dalam pendaftaran dan kemasukan wanita ke pengajian tinggi. Dengan kepesatan globalisasi, pembelajaran sepanjang hayat telah diberikan perhatian yang serius.

Baginda seterusnya menambah bahawa wanita di Brunei mempunyai akses yang sama rata kepada kemudahan penjagaan kesihatan, yang bersifat percuma kepada semua penduduk.

Sejak dua dekad yang lalu, jangka hayat wanita telah mengalami peningkatan kepada 80 tahun. Wanita juga semakin aktif dalam bidang perniagaan melalui pelbagai skim pinjaman kredit.

Baginda juga bertitah melahirkan kegembiraan bahawa lebih separuh daripada perniagaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) di Brunei dimiliki oleh wanita, yang telah berdikari dalam bidang ekonomi. Baginda seterusnya bertitah bahawa Brunei juga membuat usaha-usaha untuk melindungi hak-hak wanita melalui perundangan dan pelan-pelan tindakan yang akan terus dikemas kini dari semasa ke semasa.

Di peringkat serantau, Brunei adalah sebahagian daripada Suruhanjaya ASEAN bagi Promosi dan Perlindungan Hak-hak Wanita dan Kanak-kanak.

Deklarasi ASEAN bagi Menghapuskan Keganasan Terhadap Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak telah diterima pakai semasa Brunei menjadi tuan rumah Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN pada tahun 2013.

Baginda seterusnya bertitah bahawa usaha-usaha berterusan Brunei untuk memenuhi tanggungjawab-tanggungjawab antarabangsa dipamerkan melalui komitmen kepada Matlamat Pembangunan Milenium (MDGs), Matlamat Pembangunan Mapan (SDGs) dan Persidangan Bagi Menghapuskan Semua Bentuk Diskriminasi Terhadap Wanita.

Baginda bertitah walaupun Brunei telah mencapai banyak kemajuan, masih ada banyak lagi yang perlu dilaksanakan bagi merealisasikan potensi penuh wanita dalam pembangunan negara. Oleh itu, peranan yang seimbang dan perkongsian yang dimainkan oleh lelaki dan wanita adalah mustahak.

Di akhir titah, Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia melahirkan rasa gembira untuk mengesahkan lagi komitmen Negara Brunei Darussalam dalam melaksanakan matlamat-matlamat Deklarasi Beijing dan Wadah bagi Tindakan.

Mengiringi keberangkatan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia ialah Menteri Kewangan II (Kedua) di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim; Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan II (Kedua), Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng; dan Wakil Tetap Negara Brunei Darussalam ke PBB, Tuan Yang Terutama Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail.


Sumber - Media Permata

Is ASEAN Losing Its Way?

By Amitav Acharya

Fragmented ASEAN balks at taking a position on China’s creeping expansionism in the South China Sea

The Association of Southeast Asia Nations has prided itself on its “ASEAN Way” – an informal and non-legalistic way of doing business, especially its culture of consultations and consensus that have resolved disputes peacefully.

That way of doing may be fading among signs the group’s unity is seriously eroding. Against the backdrop of the rise of an assertive China, signs of disunity spell trouble for the region.

There are several reasons for this disunity. First, ASEAN today is a much bigger entity. Membership expanded in the 1990s to include Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, with East Timor likely to be the 11th member. ASEAN’s functions and issues have also expanded. Economic cooperation has expanded from the idea of a free trade agreement to a more comprehensive economic community, which technically enters into force this year.

ASEAN cooperation extends to a range of transnational issues from intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism, and maritime security to environmental degradation, air pollution, pandemics, energy security, food security, migration and people-smuggling, drug-trafficking, human rights and disaster management.

With an expanded membership, agenda and area of concern, it’s only natural that ASEAN would face more internal disagreements. It’s thus not surprising that one of the most serious breakdowns of consensus have involved its new members. Cambodia, as ASEAN’s chair, disastrously refused to issue a joint ASEAN communique in 2012 to please China – its new backer and aid donor – rejecting the position of fellow members, Philippines and Vietnam, on the South China Sea dispute.

Compounding challenges is the uncertain leadership of Indonesia. There are signs that the Joko Widodo government has downgraded Indonesia’s leadership role in ASEAN especially as the de facto consensus-builder of ASEAN on both intra- and extra-ASEAN conflicts, including the South China Sea. Jokowi’s “less multilateralism, more national interest” foreign policy approach, in sharp contrast to his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s active leadership of ASEAN, could change. If not, the danger is that if the democratic, economically dynamic and stable Indonesia does not take ASEAN seriously neither will the world at large.

Without a doubt, ASEAN’s main security challenge is the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. While not a new problem, the disagreement has telescoped due to recent Chinese activities. The most recent example: China’s reclamation activities in the Fiery Reef claimed by Vietnam and Mischief Reef and surrounding areas also claimed by the Philippines. This reflects a shift in China’s approach. While the Chinese military has pressed for land reclamation for some time, the leadership of Hu Jintao had resisted such moves. That restraint ended under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who is more prone to seek the PLA’s counsel in foreign policy issues related to national security and who has advanced China’s assertiveness on economic, diplomatic and military fronts. China is developing the islands further for both area denial and sea-control purposes and as a staging post for blue-water deployments into the Indian Ocean.

ASEAN’s Challenge: China in the South China Sea

These developments challenge ASEAN’s role and “centrality” in the Asian security architecture. The economic ties of individual ASEAN members lead them to adopt varying positions. Until now, ASEAN’s advantage was that there was no alternative convening power in the region. But mere positional “centrality” is meaningless without an active and concerted ASEAN leadership to tackle problems, especially the South China Sea dispute.

Episodes such as the failure to issue a joint ASEAN communique in 2012 have led to the perception that ASEAN unity is fraying and China is a major factor. According to this view, China is out to divide and conquer even as it pays lip-service to ASEAN centrality. This perception results from China’s seeming willingness to use disagreements within ASEAN, especially the consensus-breaking stance of Cambodia, insisting that ASEAN stay out of the South China Sea conflict, as an excuse to resist an early conclusion of the South China Sea Code of Conduct. China also takes the unwillingness of some ASEAN members to use strong language to criticize China as a sign of disunity. China cites earlier differences within ASEAN regarding the scope of the code of conduct over the inclusion of the Paracels, as desired by Hanoi. Moreover, China views the code as crisis-prevention tool rather than a dispute-settlement mechanism.

Divide and Rule

China needs to dispel perceptions that it is playing a divide-and-rule approach. It should also stop objecting to bringing the South China Sea question onto the agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, on the pretext that not all ASEAN members are party to the dispute and outside countries such as the United States have no business even discussing the issue. This has the effect of undermining the very idea of ASEAN centrality or relevance that Beijing purports to uphold. It’s hard to see what the rationale for having these meetings might be without discussion of one of the most serious challenges to regional security and well-being.

As for ASEAN, it must not remove itself from South China Sea issue. If anything, it should give even more focused attention to the disputes. One must not forget the lessons of the conflict triggered by the Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Cambodia from December 1978 to September 1989. Neither Vietnam nor Cambodia were members of ASEAN, and only Thailand was regarded as the “frontline state.” Then, ASEAN decided to involve itself in a conflict between two non-members because it considered the Vietnamese action a breach of regional norms and a threat to regional stability.

Today, four of ASEAN members are parties to the conflict, out of which two are “frontline states”: Philippines and, ironically enough, Vietnam. The South China Sea conflict poses an even more serious threat to regional stability, and it is a legitimate concern of ASEAN as a group.

Finally, a word about the view put forward by some that ASEAN is irrelevant and should stay out of the South China conflict.

The alternatives are few and bleak. US military action? It may have a deterrent value against the worst-case scenario of a full-blown Chinese invasion of the islands, but is unlikely to prevent the more likely scenario of China’s creeping expansion. Any US-China understanding is useful for crisis management, but ASEAN would have to worry whether in the long-term it would lead to US concessions to China – such as refraining from militarily and diplomatically challenging China’s position in the islands and surrounding areas.A decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which is considering a motion filed by the Philippines challenging the legality of China’s nine-dash line, may end up in Manila’s favor. This would help ASEAN, even if China rejects that verdict. But to make the most of such an opportunity, ASEAN would need to show collective support for such a verdict, and it might help if other claimants, such as Vietnam, also initiate similar legal action. China rejects a more direct role by the East Asia Summit, led by ASEAN anyway, because of US membership. The international community should render more support and encouragement to ASEAN to persist with its diplomacy in the conflict. And Indonesia needs to get back in this game.


Sumber - Asia Sentinel

Esmail Kiram II, Sultan of Sulu - obituary

Sultan of Sulu whose claim to Malaysian-held Sabah on Borneo led to an ill-fated attempted invasion

Esmail Kiram II, who has died aged 75, was the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, a tiny archipelago province of the Philippines that, in 2013, staged an invasion of the Malaysian enclave of Sabah on Borneo, sparking a security crisis.

The Kiram sultanate of Sulu, which emerged in the 1400s, built a reputation for its feared Tausug warriors and for several centuries the sultans ruled over vast tracts of land and ocean – including parts of Borneo – from opulent palaces.

The sultanate’s claim to Sabah (the island of Borneo is divided between Indonesia in the south, and Brunei and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah to the north), dates back to 1658 when it was said to have been granted sovereignty by the Sultan of Brunei in return for help repelling foreign invaders. Over the next two centuries, however, agreements were signed with British trading companies which ended, in 1878, with resource-rich Sabah being leased to Baron Von Overbeck for the British North Borneo Company. Eventually the British Crown claimed absolute sovereignty.

At around the same time the sultanate came under the control of Spain in Manila. In 1885 Britain, Germany and Spain signed an agreement to cement Spanish influence over the islands of the Philippines under which Spain relinquished all claim to territories in Borneo which had belonged to the sultanate in the past to the British.

When Malaysia was granted independence in 1963, Sabah voted to became part of its territory. But in a further twist the Philippine government staked its own claim to Sabah because the then sultan of Sulu, Esmail Kiram I, had signed an agreement giving Manila the right to claim the territory. At one point the disputed claim led the Philippines and Malaysia to sever diplomatic ties.

Shunted aside by history, the sultans are still regarded as royalty by about 75,000 followers in Sulu – one of the poorest regions of the Philippines – but are no longer officially recognised by the Manila government and have little else to do other than nurse historic grievances.

In recent years a dispute over succession rights within the family was sparked by the decision, in 1990, of Esmail’s elder brother Jamalul, who had been crowned sultan in 1986, to leave Sulu for Manila to enter politics and showbusiness in violation of sultanate law. As rival claimants jostled for position, in 2001 Esmail was crowned “Reigning Sultan” by the elders of Sulu. However in November 2012 Jamalul once again proclaimed himself sultan and set about securing his position by reasserting his claim to Sabah. As Jamalul was by then living in a shabby two-storey house in a poor suburb of Manila, Esmail continued to administer the court in Sulu as co-regent.

On February 11 2013 a group of around 200 armed men led by another brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, set off to cross the narrow stretch of sea between Sulu and Sabah. The intrusion led to a standoff between the sultan’s followers and Malaysian authorities, followed by a rout which cost the lives of 63 Sulu militants and 10 members of the Malaysian security forces, and forced more than 6,000 Filipinos to flee Sabah. The crisis, the most serious in Malaysia in more than a decade, strained the country’s relationship with the Philippines.

When Jamalul died in October 2013, Esmail was named sultan. He refused to give up his claims to Sabah which he described as “undeniable and indisputable” and appealed to the UN “to take the necessary preferential attentions for a peaceful resolution of the conflict to avoid further bloodshed .”

One of 13 children of Sultan Punjungan Kiram, Esmail Kiram was born on November 9 1939, in Maimbung, Sulu, and was directly descended from the first sultan, Sharif ul–Hashim (1405-?).

Another brother, Phugdal Kiram, has been named the new sultan.


Sumber - Telegraph

Brunei exports down 47.8% in July

Leo Kasim
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


BRUNEI’S exports in July fell 47.8 per cent to $647.4 million on a year-on-year basis owing to a sharp decline in oil and gas exports, according to data from the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).

The latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) published by the department disclosed oil and gas export revenues, which account for over 90 per cent of the sultanate’s exports, declined by 49.5 per cent to $593.4 million.

Export value for crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) declined by 60.9 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

Lower global prices of both crude and LNG squeezed Brunei’s oil and gas export revenues.

The export price of crude oil decreased by 46.7 per cent, from US$110.58 per barrel in July 2014 to US$58.91 per barrel in July 2015. Likewise, LNG prices declined by 44.3 per cent year-on-year from US$16.56 per million metric British thermal units (MMBtu) to US$9.23 MMBtu.

JPKE said trade volume of crude oil declined to 97.60 kbbl (thousand barrels) per day in July from 145.09 kbbl per day during the same month last year. This is the lowest trade volume so far this year.

But trade volume of LNG slightly increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year to 887,420 MMBtu/day in July.

Most of Brunei’s exports went to Japan, which accounted for 28.3 per cent of the sultanate’s export market. This was followed by South Korea, with 23.5 per cent and India, with 15.2 per cent.

Merchandise imports decreased by 27.4 per cent from $477.2 million to $346.6 million. JPKE attributed this to lower imports for mineral fuels which fell by 69.4 per cent from $53.2 million to $16.3 million.

More than 20 per cent of Brunei’s imports came from Malaysia. This was followed by Singapore and China which accounted for 16.3 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively of total imports.

Total trade narrowed by 42.1 per cent from $1.7 billion in July 2014.

The IMTS for Brunei Darussalam adopts the General System for recording trade statistics which cover imports, domestic exports and re-exports. The IMTS full report for July 2015 is available from JPKE’s website www.depd.gov.bn.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

BELASUNGKAWA

19 September 2015, JALAN KEBANGSAAN : Dukacita dimaklumkan Pak Haji Zaini bin Haji Ahmad, salah seorang Pemimpin PRB, telah kembali ke Rahmatullah pada pagi tadi di rumah kediaman beliau di alamat No.59 Spg 336-52 Jalan Kebangsaan.

Beliau antara pimpinan PRB yang paling aktif dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan, dan pada 1957 turut bersama A.M Azahari dan Yasin Affandy mewakili PRB di London dalam perundingan dengan Colonial Office berhubung penggubalan Perlembagaan Brunei.

Selepas peristiwa pemberontakan 8 Disember 1962, beliau antara ahli PRB yang turut menjadi mangsa tahanan selama lebih sepuluh tahun.

Pada bulan Julai dan November 1975 beliau bersama A.M Azahari dan Yasin Affandy sekali lagi diberi kepercayaan di dalam rombongan PRB ke United Nations (PBB) untuk mengemukakan petisyen bagi menuntut Kemerdekaan Brunei. Akhirnya, sebuah Resolusi telah diterima oleh PBB mengenai tuntutan tersebut yang dikenali sebagai Resolusi PBB 3424 (1975).

Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh Allahyarham dan moga Allahyarham ditempatkan bersama orang-orang yang soleh. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

BELASUNGKAWA

17 September 2015, LIMBARUH HIJAU : Bendera 'Sang Setia' hari ini dikibar separuh tiang bagi menghormati Naib Presiden Parti Pembangunan Bangsa Daerah Tutong, Allahyarham Saudara Haji Ismail bin Ibrahim yang kembali ke Rahmatullah pada pagi tadi.

Allahyarham menghembuskan nafas terakhir di Hospital Pg Muda Mahkota Pg Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Daerah Tutong.

Jenazah Allahyarham selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Orang-Orang Islam Telisai.

Allahyarham Haji Ismail bin Ibrahim merupakan salah seorang Ahli NDP yang banyak berjasa dan menyumbang kepada pergerakan NDP khususnya di Daerah Tutong.

Semoga Allahyarham ditempatkan Allah SWT bersama para syuhada. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.