Riau - 4th June: While US diplomats were involved in talks with representatives of the remaining Sultans of Sulu, a province in the Southern Philippines, it is possible that Sabah was included in the talks. The US, it is said, is supportive of a possible Unilateral Declaration of Independence of the province, thus breaking it away from the Philippines.

Sabah, a state in Malaysia is a possible target in efforts by Washington to have greater control of the seas and resources of the southern Philippines region. It is part of the US foreign policy to achieve full or partial control of the South East Asian regions strategic geographic regions and Sabah is part of that strategy, reports indicated.
While US diplomats were involved in talks with representatives of the remaining Sultans of Sulu, a province in the Southern Philippines, it is possible that Sabah was included in the talks. The US, it is said, is supportive of a possible Unilateral Declaration of Independence of the province, thus breaking it away from the Philippines.
US military warships and army commanders regularly visits Sabah and Sarawak while on duty in the Southern Philippines. The Borneo Island is seen as very strategic point for the US in its canalization of troops against the growing influence of China in the South East Asia region. It is also a salient part of the US plan to have solid control of the sea routes and strategic land areas that lead to the Malacca Straits.
Malaysia has refused to allow direct US involvement in the Malacca Straits but recent push by Washington in Jakarta by offering Indonesia massive aid to counter terror and piracy in the Straits of Malacca has raised concern in Kuala Lumpur.
While the Sulu independence may not directly challenge the sovereignty of Malaysia, linking it with the future status of Sabah would have deep impact on the Malaysian union. This will also add more pressure on the current Malaysian government to bring more development and surely spend more money in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Recent claims by Nur Misuari, the ousted leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that the status of Sabah had to be decided by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was part of the plan to support a future UDI of Sulu.
Misuari, while claiming that Sabah was not necessarily Malaysian, has apparently relayed previous claims by some of the existing royal families of the Sulu Sultanate in the Southern Philippines and is attempting at leveling the playing fields in a wider regional conflict scenario, aid an expert on the southern Philippines issues to World Futures.
Misuari made it clear that his group does not have plans to attack Sabah but wants the ICJ to settle the status of the state if Malaysia will not resolve the issue with the Bangsamoro people ‘justly and peacefully.’
Some observers stated to WorldFutures that Misuari is trying to regain his political strength and by claiming that Sabah is a Moro land, he expects to get the support of the Bangsamoro people inside the Southern Philippines and outside, in Sabah and Sarawak altogether.
This may also mean he (Misuari) will try to motivate local Sabahans to gear towards the breaking of Sabah from Federal Malaysia, another analyst from Mindanao told WorldFutures, adding that this could mean there are efforts from some quarters to change the geo-political landscape in the region.
“The issue of Sabah is more on sour grapes for Nur, for having been arrested and turned over to GRP for incarceration,” said one observer.
“I suspect that is part of the condition for his release,” he said, adding that the GRP position on Sabah is very shallow without active support from Moro Fronts and the Sultans,” said one observer.
The call made by Misuari was on the cards for some time as such a statement was expected since March this year. It was brought to the attention of WorldFutures in Riau, Indonesia that a member of the Sulu royal family was to stake claims on Sabah. This was to be made after the announcement of the re-establishment of the Sulu Sultanate by a group of the surviving Sulu royals.
It is also possible that the Sulu royals would declare an independent Sulu Sultanate – a possibility discussed by some of the royal families of the Sulu region with members of the US government in the past. The issue of the creation of a Sulu Sultanate, independent from the Philippines has been in the talks for a long time but was abandoned after the 911 events.
Declaring the unilateral independence of the Sulu Islands would require the support from Washington and the Sulu royals were after this support during their talks (unofficial indeed) with the US representatives that visit Mindanao and Sabah regularly.
The US is said to favor the creation of the Sulu Sultanate only for its political and economic gains. It is clear that Washington used the Sulu Sultanate issue against Manila in order to get Malacanang – the Presidential Palace in Manila – to agree to a longer and more active participation of US troops in Southern Philippines.
At the current rate, the Southern Philippines – including Sulu islands – have become part of the daily ‘exercise’ of US troops posted in the region. They have free access to the Muslim populated regions and are carrying out a deadly hunt for suspected Al-Qaeda and terror elements, members of the so called Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf.
Breaking Sulu away from the Philippines will have deep resonance throughout the South East Asian region as it will also boost independence claims by Southern Thai Muslims who have been fighting an uneven war against the Thai regime in Bangkok.
It is not known how a Sulu unilateral independence claim – which may be made under extreme circumstances it is said and with Washington’s support – will affect Sabah but the claims by Misuari that Malaysia is not dealing with the issue fairly and justly will be added pressure on the Sabahans and the Malaysians.
The question that many are asking is whether Washington is behind the claims for Sabah by the Sulu leaders and by Nur Misuari and if yes, why the US would want to help break Malaysia’s Federal status, though the strategic location and the economic resources of the state could be a motivational factor.
Nevertheless, nothing will happen in Sulu as long as the Philippines government headed by Arroyo Macapagal keeps the payments going to the Sulu Royals, said another observer who spoke to WorldFutures. He added that the Sultans in Sulu are dependent on the funds earmarked for them by Manila.

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