KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — The government is currently in the final stages of drafting the State Immunity Bill, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

She said the bill aims to provide immunity to foreign countries from civil proceedings in Malaysian courts subject to the immunity restrictions provided for in the bill.

"Based on the principle of mutual treatment, the same treatment is expected to be given to Malaysia by foreign countries if proceedings are initiated against Malaysia in the courts of that foreign country.

"This reflects the efforts of the unity government in upholding the rights and interests of the country and ensuring that Malaysia’s sovereignty and immunity are protected in any proceedings in any court, in addition to strengthening Malaysia’s diplomatic relations with other countries,” she said in a written reply published on the Parliament website today.

Azalina said this in response to a question from Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) who wanted to know the latest status of the Sulu heir case and the government’s efforts to set aside the final award by Dr Gonzales Stampa in the French Court and how the State Immunity Bill will help guarantee the country’s sovereignty.

Regarding the case of the Sulu heirs, Azalina said the Malaysian government is filing its submission on the case.

"This follows the action by the party claiming to be the heir of the Sultan of Sulu having filed an appeal against the decision of The Hague Court of Appeal in June, which ruled in favour of Malaysia, rejecting the application to recognise and enforce the Final Award in the Netherlands.

"The Malaysian government has and is taking various actions aggressively to challenge and end the claims of those who claim to be heirs of the Sultan of Sulu,” she said.

She said the court has set December 11, 2023, to hear Dr Stampa’s criminal case for going against a Madrid court decision dated June 29, 2021. — Bernama