It’s best for former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to explain the controversial 2019 letter to lawyers of the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs expressing Malaysia’s willingness to meet the arrears of “cession” payments, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
“I do not know about the letter, the then prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) also did not know, what more me.
“It’s best for the question to be answered by Tommy Thomas,” the former Sabah chief minister told reporters on Thursday (July 21) when asked if he was aware of the letter sent by Thomas to lawyers representing the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs.
Shafie was the then Sabah chief minister leading the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan state government following their victory in the 2018 general election.
Thomas’ letter allegedly expressed the willingness of the Malaysian government to pay the outstanding arrears of RM48,000 in cession payments since 2013 and this was used by the lawyers for the Sulu heirs as Malaysia’s recognition of the claimants.
Shafie said that there were two situations – one was former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stopping the payment in 2013 after the Sulu intrusion in 2013 and a letter from Thomas to the Sulu heirs’ lawyers.
“It’s best for them to explain it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah MCA has lodged a police report against Thomas over his alleged correspondence with the descendants of the Sulu sultanate.
In a statement today, Sabah MCA said it wanted the police to investigate if there was wrongdoing on Thomas’ part.