根据相关历史记载:苏禄苏丹王国,全名称为“苏禄和平之家伊斯兰苏丹国”(The Sultanate of Sulu Daral-Islam),是苏禄人在公元1457年所建立的伊斯兰苏丹国,其国境位于今日菲律宾南部棉兰老穆斯林自治区(Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,简称ARMM)西端的苏禄群岛(Sulu Archipelago),还有巴西兰省(Basilan Province)、达威达威省(Tawi-Tawi) 、巴拉望岛(Palawan Island)、婆罗洲北部及其他环绕苏禄海周围的群岛等,现时分别属于棉兰老穆斯林自治区巴西兰省及民马罗巴区(Mimaropa)巴拉望省(Palawan Province)。
公元1846年,汶莱苏丹将沙巴西海岸纳闽岛割让给英国,纳闽遂于1848年成为英国的殖民地。经过一连串的转移,及后北婆罗洲被转手给阿尔弗雷德•登特(Alfred Dent),他在1881年成立了英国北婆罗洲临时协会有限公司(British North Borneo Provisional Association Ltd)。在1882年,英国北婆罗洲公司(British North Borneo Company)成立,以古达为公司总部。公元1883年总部迁往山打根。
再说,从1962年起,菲律宾开始索讨沙巴的主权,当时苏禄苏丹的继承者授权菲政府代表其谈判。亊实上,经过二百多年的变化,苏禄苏丹早已名存而实亡,其后裔宗室,也出现不同支脉,互争正统地位。目前入侵沙巴的拉惹莫达阿兹慕迪基兰,便是其中之一支脉也。他是苏禄苏丹贾马鲁基兰三世的弟弟(The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III)。
KiniTV's Temily Tianmay has a brief chat with the 3 Sabahans who were arrested along with 3 Al-Jazeera journalists for attempting to reach Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu where the "Sultan of Sulu's" army are in a stand-off with Malaysian security forces.
All four men are members of Sabah's political party SAPP.
From left to right, the men are:
1. Nor Hidun bin Muhamad, Pemuda SAPP
2. Asraf bin Amir, Ketua Pemuda SAPP (N49, Tungku)
3. Madsabar bin Muhamad, Pemuda SAPP
4. Suaib Mutalib, SAPP Asst. Secretary General (Travelled with the above 3 by land but did not board the boat on which they were arrested)