The Malaysian state of Sabah in Borneo is rich in natural resources like oil, gas and timber. It is a magnet for migrant workers from neighboring country like Indonesia and the Philippines. All search for employment and a better life. But as of the foreign workers here increases so as the local opposition towards them. Now the government turn them away including Filipinos. The Malaysian government is tough in immigration they even spent 15 million dollars in two weeks just to sweep illegal migrants in Sabah for the reason of crimes are increasing ( they say) . The detainee will spend weeks before they are deported. Over the pass 18 years the Malaysian government had deported half a million illegal aliens. This Malaysian government campaign gained international critics, because of the prisons are over crowding, poor treatment and sexual abuses. But these allegations the Malaysian government denies. Most Indonesian migrants in Sabah had access to consular services but that is not true for Filipino workers, because the nearest Philippine embassy is 1500km away in Kuala Lumpur. Even it is badly needed the Philippine government did not set up a consular office here, because of the long standing territorial claim over Sabah. Fearing arrest and without help from the Philippine government many undocumented Filipino workers are leaving in their own. No passport or visa stumps are required just a few ringet to get them home. This people will go to Sabah for the reason of peace and just for a few ringet they can feed their family. Most of the Sabah prosperity was build by Filipino illegal workers but still they feared for deportation even Sabah is a Philippine territory.
 |
the Sulu Sultan
Jamal ul Azam |
Sulu the soul of once respected and powerful kingdom stretching from the southern Philippines to the Northern Borneo now Sabah. But that a century ago now it is known as the poorest and most volatile province of the Philippines. But Bodsol Karil Kiram wants to change that, and bring back the glory days. This man's home is literally his castle, "Butch" is he most commonly called is the sultan of Sulu and Sabah. Descended from a long line of royal leaders who's ancestors once had powers of life and death over their subjects. But this royal family leaves in squalor, despite they are receiving their share of the rent Malaysia pay for Sabah. 12 US dollars a year doesn't help much on sustaining the up keep of their home and barely enough to feed the seven royal children. At the sultanate office Butch's uncle Ismael holds court, he too is the Sultan of Sulu and get a cut of the Sabah rent money as due around a 150 other relatives. Malaysia pay 1,800 US dollars per year divided among the original sultan heiress the amount never changed over a century. Eight claimed the throne each had paper works that he is the legitimate Sultan.
 |
| Rol Jambangan in Jolo Sulu |
The Rol Jambangan ( the palace of flowers) is buried so deep in the jungle, now even most of the locals doesn't know it is existed. Like for the return of Sabah, the heiress of this broken kingdom thinks that the government had buried the issue to maintain the cordial ties of Malaysia. Their dreams of Muslim heart land are decaying beneath the under growth. But Sultan" Butch" is eager to pass the legacy to his sons. Like Malaysia (he said) we are Muslim too we can work this out if they will speak to us directly and give us Sabah and reinstalled the kingdom. Sultan Ismael agrees he believes that the fight for Sabah is about asking Malaysia for more money. It gives Filipino Muslims back apart from their ancestors home. It belongs to us our late fathers told us not to let it go (Sultan Ismael said) so we want it back. For the resident of Sulu straggling the daily life. The sun had long set for the sultanate. And for many there their would be kings but only shadows castles in the air.
Who has the best hotel deals?
Compare 30 sites at ONCE!
