Sulu claim: A Sabahan's relief at the Dutch court's verdict

For almost six decades, the issue has been hotly debated since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, even after Sabah became part of the federation. The verdict favouring the Malaysian government nullifies the purported final award of $15bn issued by Spanish arbitrator Dr Gonzalo Stampa to eight persons who claimed to be heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate. Sabah is a state that has its sovereignty, and the Dutch court’s decision to dismiss the appeal shows that the Sulu claim is baseless