KOTA KINABALU: The final judgement of the Dutch Supreme Court, which rejected the appeal by the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs regarding Sabah, is a special gift for the people of the state in conjunction with the upcoming Malaysia Day and Sabah Day celebrations.

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said that his party would continue to support all government efforts to ensure the safety and interests of Sabahans and Malaysians remained protected.

"Thank you for always defending Sabah's sovereignty within Malaysia. Malaysia's victory in the Dutch Supreme Court against the Sulu group's appeal is great news for all Sabahans.

"This decision proves that Sabah is sovereign within Malaysia. It effectively ends the claims from the Sulu group, which Sabah has never recognised from the beginning," said Kurup, who is also the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, in a statement today.

He also expressed appreciation on behalf of PBRS for the commitment and efforts of the Unity Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has been serious in ensuring that all external claims on Sabah are swiftly put to an end.

On Friday (Sept 6), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that the government had secured a significant final victory in the Dutch Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of Malaysia.

The judgment effectively nullifies the claims made by the self-proclaimed Sulu heirs.

-- BERNAMA