TERKINI!!! Jamalul Kiram Meninggal Dunia!!

Sultan Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III (75) telah disahkan meninggal dunia akibat kegagalan organ awal pagi tadi (20 Oktober 2013) di Philippine Heart Center di Quezon City, oleh jurucakap keluarganya, Abraham Idjirani. 

Idjirani berkata, ahli kelurarga Diraja tersebut masih berbincang urusan pengebumian jenazah tetapi memaklumkan bahawa Arwah pernah menyatakan hasrat untuk dikebumikan di Bandar Diraja Kesultanan Sulu iaitu di Maimbung, Sulu.

Berita lanjut dipetik dari AFP

In February, at least 100 armed followers of Kiram trooped to Lahad Datu, Sabah to revive the Sultanate's claim to the Eastern Malaysian state. The move resulted in a standoff between Malaysian security troops and Kiram's "Royal Security Force." (READ: Sultan infuriates PH, Malaysia)

Kiram asked his siblings to continue the Sultanate's fight to reclaim Sabah, Idjirani said, adding that Kiram spoke with his brother Raja Agbimuddin Kiram, who led the Sabah standoff, over the phone a day before he died.

But this did not mean renewed violence, Kiram's wife, Fatima, told Agence France-Presse.

Fatima said the family was willing to enter into negotiations with Malaysia.

"The sultan died a poor but honourable man," she said. "His last words to all his brothers and followers were, 'It has already begun. Let us continue it for the good of our people. Do not abandon our people."

Several followers of the Sultanate of Sulu are presently facing terrorism-related charges in Malaysia over the Sabah incident.

In 2007, Kiram ran for senator under then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Team Unity slate.

Prior to his senatorial, Kiram was a member of the Legislative and Executive Advisory Council (LEDAC) on the Sabah Claim. He was also Arroyo's Presidential Adviser on Muslim Royalties' Concern.

The Sultan of Sulu once ruled over islands in Mindanao, as well as Sabah. But the sultanate lost control of Sabah to European colonial powers in the 18th Century. (READ: Sabah as the last gold coin)

In 1963, Sabah voted to become part of the federation of Malaysia.

Kiram and his family, still receive annual compensation from Malaysia – the equivalent of about $1,700 – but he had previously said this amount was far too low.

Aside from Kiram, there are other descendants of the sultanate who also claim to be the true sultans of Sulu.

Fatima Kiram said her husband's younger brother, Bantillan, would take over as sultan, stressing he had "the legal authority." – Agence France-Presse