Why The Lahad Datu Crisis In Sabah (Malaysia) Happened - Research Paper Example

Why the Lahad Datu Crisis in Sabah (Malaysia) Happened According to research, about 200-armed Filipinos belonging tothe royal Sulu army took over parts of Lahad Datu in Sabah and confirmed possession of the entire zone in the name of the Sulu Sultan Jamalul. Sabah has been a quota of the Malaysian alliance ever since the early1960s1. However, the Sulu Sultanate, which is situated in southern Philippines, has persistently asserted its historical and exclusive privileges over the zone. Furthermore, the Philippines have nevertheless to publicly descent its assertion that Sabah is a portion of its region. The government of Malaysia had requested the armed Filipinos in Lahad Datu to admit defeat for three weeks now without a success. Unfortunately, on March 5th, the army confronted the group and terminated the livelihood. The clash and subsequent military operations reportedly resulted into the killing of more than fifty people, inclusive of eight associates of the Malaysian police. The Malaysian ministry of welfare was fast to name the armed Filipinos as bombers. The government of the Philippines, which is presently accomplishing a peace treaty with Muslim separaties in the southern portion of the nation, also condemned the livelihood. Remarkably, the prime minister of Malaysia has yet to let go the notion that Malaysian opposition politicians have collaborated with the Sulu sultan in order to undermine the nation and bring down the presiding alliance ahead of the year`s universal polls. This research aims at analyzing the reasons why Lahad Datu crisis in Sabah (Malaysia )happened. Accordingly, the Lahad Datu crisis started a humanitarian crisis basically after scores of Sabah residents with Filipino heritage were detained and more migratory Filipinos pursued sanctuary in the Philippines2. In addition, there are also allegations concerning the abuses of human rights committed by the security of the Malaysian forces, a declaration that was powerfully repudiated by the Kuala Lumpur administration. Other addition concerns were made concerning the effect of the martial setup on the inhabitants of Sabah. It was argued that the ‘militarization’ and the handiness of safekeeping powers around the Sabah quota have advanced various barricades limiting the movements of the aboriginal entities in their scavenging for food, hunting and gathering3. Thus, because of such restriction, the Lahad Datu crisis in Sabah was inevitable. This is because such limitations on travel will likely cause shortages on foodstuffs for the people, which is a dangerous action for people in such area. However, it is feared that the Sabah crisis is most likely to leave problems for both Malaysia and the Philippines for the coming future. Therefore, in order to avoid such crisis from happening, it is necessary that the officials of Malaysia and the Philippines settle for the last time the issue of Sabah. From research, the Philippines preserves a central regional entitlement to eastern Sabah, initially referred to as north Bomeo, through the custom of the Sultanate of Sulu. This claim is based on the idea that the domain of the sultanate has traditionally traversed from the Sulu archipelago into portions of northern Bomeo4. Therefore, because of such claims, the embassy of Malaysia in Philippines gives out a cheque of some amount to the lawful counsel of the beneficiaries of the Sultan of Sulu in maintain the terms of an pact made in 1878. Malaysia views the amount as a yearly cession payment for the disputed nation; however, the progeny of Sultan views it as a lease imbursement. Nevertheless, Malaysia has categorically canceled any Philippine local entitlement to Sabah as it infers the 1878 pact as that of cession and that it supposes that the inhabitants of Sabah had practiced their rights to independence when they decided to join the Malaysia confederation in 1963. Thus, analytically, it is because of such issues that led to the Lahad Datu crisis in Sabah. In addition, another reason for the Lahad Datu crisis included the unsettled position of the Sultanate of Sulu. For instance, this causes a big problem because the Filipino team in Lahad Datu has the declaration that they symbolize Jamalul Kiram III as the Sultan of Sulu. Conversely, his status is undecided to various other supplicants. In addition the beneficiaries of the sultanate of Sulu felt left out by the standings of the structure of a peace pact made amid the government and the Moro Islamic liberty front as announced by the president of the Philippine Aquino III. Therefore, in reaction to such issues, Jamalul Kiram III, declaring to be the appropriate beneficiary to the power of Sulu, dictated on 11 November 2012 that a citizen and martial subject should emphasize his regional privileges in North Borneo. He thus elected his brother to lead the team in the conflict. Therefore, this demonstrates the reasons behind the Lahad Datu crisis in Sabah. Generally, it can be said that the crisis was sparked off because of the land issue and desire for power. Another reason behind the Lahad Datu crisis is because of the restriction of movement of the residents within Malaysia and the continuous flow of armies in the country in order to help stop the crisis. Aquino refused to confirm reports of other groups allegedly behind the crisis so that he could damage the peace progress5. The troupe accordingly refused to return to their homes declaring that unless the leaders make an arrangement according to the written pact that was to be signed by the parties concerned. They affirmed that they were ready to stay in Sabah even if they have less access to foodstuffs because of the food blockade as ordered by the government of Malaysia. However, the Malaysian people were encouraged not be worried because the crisis was going to be resolved soon or later. This is because the issue was being handled as a national security issue. Therefore, analytically, these are some of the reasons behind the crisis in Lahad Datu in Sabah. In conclusion, research has demonstrated that about 200 armed Filipinos belonging to the royal Sulu army took over parts of Lahad Datu in Sabah and confirmed possession of the entire zone in the name of the Sulu Sultan Jamalul. Sabah has been portion of the Malaysian confederation ever since 1963; however, the Sulu Sultanate, which is situated in southern Philippines, has persistently asserted its historical and exclusive privileges over the zone. This research had the aim of discussing the reasons why there a crisis in Lahad Datu in Sabah. It tried its best by providing different analysis concerning the issue at hand. For instance, it found out that the crisis took place because of various issues including the unsettled position of the Sultanate of Sulu. For instance, this causes a big problem because the Filipino team in Lahad Datu has the declaration that they symbolize Jamalul Kiram III as the Sultan of Sulu. Accordingly, it analyzed another reason that the Philippines preserves a central regional entitlement to eastern Sabah, initially referred to as north Bomeo, through the custom of the Sultanate of Sulu. This claim is based on the idea that the domain of the sultanate has traditionally traversed from the Sulu archipelago into portions of northern Bomeo. Therefore, such claims are the ones that sparked off this crisis just as analyzed in details by the research above. Works Cited Karlos, Manlupig (10 March 2013). "'We're treated like animals': Filipinos in Sabah". Asia: Asia News Network, 2013. Mazwin, Muguntan . "Lahad Datu: PM confirms two commandos killed; regrets bloodshed". New York, NY: Routledge, 2013. Othman, Ahmad Fairuz (8 March 2013). "Lahad Datu: More Suluk communities declare support for Msia". New Straits Times, March 2013. Pazzibugan, Donna Z. "14 dead in Sabah assault". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 March 2013. Ubac, Michael."No surrender, we stay". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 March 2013from: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/03/26/crisis-in-sabah-after-malaysias-standoff-with-armed-filipinos/. Read More