SULU - Five known heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu have inked a covenant of unity among themselves to push their call for proprietary and due recognition from the Malaysian and Philippine governments.

The signatories to the covenant are Sultan Ibrahim Bahjin, Sultan Muedzul-lail Tan Kiram, Sultan Mohammad Venizar Jainal Abirin, sultan Muizuddin Bahjin and Sultan Phugdalun Kiram.

The call for unity among the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu was commissioned by Sulu Vice Governor Sakur Tan, who asked the professional help of several educators and scholars from the University of the Philippines, headed by former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Mehol Sadain.

According to Sadain, this is just an initial step to unite all the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu since there are still three or four other heirs who have yet to join the call for unity.

A royal council will be created among the sultans and eventually, they will get to select only one sultan duly recognized among them, he said.

The council will also elect one chairman who will head the advisory group.

However, Sadain said they still do not want to discuss the Sabah claim issue since bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Philippines might be tarnished with the issue of sovereignty.

Sadain said the Sultanate of Sulu can still push for the Sabah claim, focusing instead on the proprietary issue or ownership of Sabah. The Sultanate of Sulu can demand a higher annual compensation from the Malaysian government with a strong and united voice.

Sabah was once ruled by the Sultanate of Sulu, being part of the areas that were never conquered by foreign invaders.

A British company signed a lease agreement with the sultans with corresponding monetary considerations.

Tan, who is running for ARMM governor, quickly denied that his initiative to unite the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu has something to do with politics.