The Malaysia Sulu case refers to an arbitration case which involving the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu and the government of Malaysia in the Spanish and later French court system.^[1]

The North Borneo dispute arises from an agreement between the now defunct Sultanate of Sulu and the British North Borneo Company in 1878. Under the agreement the Sulu Sultanate gave control of lands in North Borneo and the British are to pay for them a fee annually.^{[2][lower-alpha 1]}

Malaysia after its formation in 1963,^[4] would pay the heirs of the Sulu Sultanate a token fee annually until the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff.^[2] Heirs, who insist they are not involved with the standoff, sought arbitration over the stoppage of the payment.^[5]

According to the Malaysian government, the following are the heirs involved in the Sulu case which it says to be Filipino citizens:^[14]

• Nurhima Kiram Fornan
• Fuad A. Kiram
• Sheramar T. Kiram
• Permaisuli Kiram–Guerzon
• Taj–Mahal Kiram–Tarsum Nuqui;
• Ahmad Nazard Kiram Sampang (d. 2023)
• Jenny K.A. Sampang
• Widz–Raunda Kiram Sampang

Malaysia has viewed the move by the Sulu heirs as a violation of its sovereignty by seeking arbitration in foreign courts without its consent.^[15] Sampa and the Sulu heirs has been criticized for forum shopping.^[9]

In mid-2023, Malaysian parliament member Khlir Mohd Nor, who believe that the Philippine government is involved in the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff also alleges that the Philippine government is involved in the Sulu case. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who had met with Philippine President Bongbong Marcos said that the Philippine government is not involved in the Sulu case and iterated Malaysian policy of not entertaining claims on the sovereignty over Sabah. ^[15]

• Malaysia Sulu Case website by the Malaysian government