KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has not abandoned its plans to set up a research centre that will put the state’s historical events, including its ties with the Sulu sultanate, in proper perspective, said state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

       He said he had suggested for the creation of a “Research Centre for North Borneo History” as a depository of all documents and research papers on Sabah’s history.

       The centre could be placed under the Sabah Institute of Development Studies, he said when asked whether the state government was still pursuing calls for a historical repository be set up, especially to counter Sulu’s claims.

       In April, Sabah Attorney General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof said that it did not have any plan to create a repository on matters linked to the Sulu claims.

       Nor Asiah did, however, say the state government is open to suggestions that could help put an end to the issue of illegitimate Sabah claims.

       She explained that issues involving claims by the self-proclaimed heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate were handled by the Federal Government through the Attorney General’s Chambers and Foreign Ministry.

       The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has been pressing the state government to set up a repository that will put in place a proper, documented perspective of Sabah’s history in relations to the Sulu sultanate, for the Federal Government’s reference.

       The proposal for the repository came after an April 5 webinar discussion organised by SLS on the Philippines/Sulu claims in which speakers included former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, Singapore-based Queen’s Counsel Dr Colin Ong and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee.

       Issues to strengthen Malaysia and Sabah’s arguments against the Sulu claims came about after a Paris arbitration court’s decision to award RM64bil to Sulu heirs earlier this year. Malaysia has filed an appeal against the decision.