Mohd Akjan claims this event on February 2nd, 2011 in Kampung Likas, near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was a majlis doa selamat (Thanks giving ceremony) and not the proclamation ceremony as alleged.
The Star, Malaysia's top English language newspaper today reported that a businessman in the centre of an uproar regarding his alleged proclamation as the Sultan of Sulu, has denied he was crowned the ruler of the island province in the Philippines.
Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad who claimed to be a longtime Umno member also announced he was quitting the party.
In his first official statement since the controversy erupted two weeks ago, Mohd Akjan said the event at his house in Kampung Likas, Kota Kinabalu on February 2nd, 2011 was a majlis doa selamat dan kesyukuran (a thanksgiving gathering to show gratitude to Allah) after he agreed to accept an offer from the so-called Sulu interim government to be the 33rd Ruler of the Sultanate.
Mohd Akjan is said to be a direct descendant of the last reigning Sultan of Sulu Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Sultan Shariful-Hashim.
The businessman had reportedly taken the name Sultan Shariful-Hashim II.
Mohd Akjan said that prior to the event, he had briefed the police special branch officers in Kota Kinabalu on what was going to happen that day.
“In fact, I invited them to attend and witness the ceremony but they said there was no need to do so since I had briefed them on it,” he added.
Mohd Akjan said the recent media attacks and police reports against him were politically- motivated and malicious, which also led to his entire family, including his children, to be picked up and investigated by the police.
As Mohd Akjan moved to clear the air over the controversy, his close aides lodged a police report for alleged slander against him to counter reports that had been made over his alleged installation as the Sulu Sultan.
Mohd Akjan said he was born in Kampung Limau Limaun in northern Kudat and is a Malaysian.
“If I accept the Sultan of Sulu position in November, I will have to give up my Malaysian citizenship. I have not gone crazy as claimed by some of my critics. I am fully aware of what I am doing,” he added.
With his resignation from Umno, he said there was no need for anyone to bring the issue up with the party’s supreme council.
“It is the one and only political party I have been with for over two decades. I have reached a point of no return and I am sad to leave,” he said.
Meanwhile the Malaysian police have so far recorded statements from 18 people in connection with the claim that businessman Datuk Mohd Akjan Ali Muhammad had crowned himself the Sultan of Sulu.
Malaysian Criminal Investigative Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said they were recording statements of individuals and witnesses, including Akjan’s family members.
“So far no arrests have been made,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday 23rd February, 2011.
Bakri said they have yet to question Akjan.
“Give us some time as this case is very unique,” he added.
According to Wikipedia, The Sultan of Sulu is a Muslim royal house that governs over most Muslims in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines.
The Sultanate also used to govern the state of Sabah in Malaysia.
While the sultanate is not an internationally recognized entity it enjoys some autonomy and influence in the Philippines, particularly among the Muslim population of the country.
The office was recognized by the government in Manila until 1936. The centre of government of the Sulu Sultanate kingdom was in Jolo. During their rule, Jolo became the centre of the Sulu Sultanate government and the centre of port trading.
Maps of the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines
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