KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government must be totally committed to resolving the issue of RM62.59bil in compensation awarded by a Paris arbitration court to the so-called heirs of the sultan of Sulu, says United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

       He added that the majority of Sabahans was concerned about how the matter was being handled at the international level.

       Pandikar, who is Sabah's envoy to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), said the demand should not be entertained and the government must find the best possible solution to put an end to the Philippines' claim on Sabah.

       "Malaysia must build a strong case and not to be forced to pay the claim. This issue will be a huge disaster if it (is not) addressed," he said, adding that the RM62.59bil should be used for the development of Sabah instead.

       The former Dewan Rakyat speaker said that since Sabah's independence on Aug 31, 1963, the issue of the Philippines' claim to Sabah has often come up over the years.

       The authorities at federal level have not been able to resolve the issue completely, he added.

       He said the federal government must ensure that there is no repeat of what happened with Pulau Batu Puteh, which is now the property of Singapore.

       In fact, until the arbitration order on March 1, he said there had no firm and thorough action by Putrajaya to resolve the claim once and for all.

       It was reported that Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa had, in a French arbitration court where Malaysia was not represented, ordered the country to pay compensation to the heirs of the Sulu sultan amounting to US$14.92bil (about RM62.59bil).

       The self-proclaimed heirs made the claim after Malaysia allegedly stopped payments of RM5,300 cession money under the 1878 agreement signed by Sultan Jamal Al Alam, Baron de Overbeck and the British North Borneo Company's Alfred Dent.

       In light of the latest development, Pandikar said Sabah's political leaders had to unite and put the interests of the people above all else.

       "This is the time for leaders, regardless of political or ideological differences, to unite and defend Sabah," he said.