KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 ― The lawyer appointed by Malaysia to handle the Sulu claimants’ dispute is confident that the country has a strong chance of prevailing based on facts and evidence that clearly sides Malaysia, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said.

She added that she was currently conducting a visit together with a representative from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Solicitor-General II Datuk Almalena Sharmila and Malaysia’s ambassador to Spain Datuk Akmal Che Mustafa to Madrid, Spain, where the eight individuals involved in the Sulu claims dispute have begun arbitration proceedings.

During the visit, she held discussions was briefed by the law firm representing Malaysia, Uria Menandez from Spain, Bredin Prat (France), Fietta LLP (United Kingdom) and public relations consultants PA Associates (United Kingdom) on the claims dispute while waiting the decision by the International Court of Justice in Hague on June 27.

"Whatever the judgment, the Madani government will remain firm in our stand to continue efforts to ensure Malaysia’s sovereignty is preserved in this case,” she posted on Facebook yesterday.

Azalina urged that all Malaysians continue to support government efforts to champion this issue and to pray for success and the preservation of the country’s sovereignty.

Eight Filipinos claiming to be descendants of the Sulu Sultanate were reported to have taken legal action through arbitration at the Spanish Court to obtain compensation over the alleged leasing of Sabah by their ancestors to the British East India Company in 1878. ― Bernama