KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 11): The self-styled Sulu sultanate is still laying claim over Sabah with Phugalon Kiram II, its new sultan, seeking a conference on the matter, reports The Star Online.

The English-language daily quoted its spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying that they wanted to pursue a peaceful resolution to their claim.

“The sultan’s concern is to find a resolution to this long-standing dispute and the way forward is an international conference on the matter,” he reportedly said, adding that they had not received a response from Putrajaya to a letter asking for such a conference.

He said the conference should also include representatives of the natives of Sabah, apart from Malaysia and Philippines.

The report said Phugalon Kiram II was installed as the 35th “sultan” of Sulu and North Borneo on Feb 6.

The sultan who was known as Datuk Phugdal adopted the name of his great grandfather Sultan Phugdalon to thwart other claimants to the sultanate lineage.

The Sulu sultanate gained infamy when it led an incursion into Sabah’s coastal village of Lahad Datu in February 2013.

With about 200 armed men, the attack was led by Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the brother of Phugalon Kiram II.

Malaysia responded with a standoff that saw dozens of people killed. Among those detained after weeks of sporadic fighting is the son of Esmail Kiram, Datu Amir Bahar Husin Kiram, who is facing trial for various offences, including treason.

Esmail Kiram, who is also a brother of Phugalon, died in September last year.