KOTA TINGGI: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh affirms Malaysia's right to stake its claim, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president said the RCI provided a better understanding of the government’s decision in 2018 not to pursue the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh.
“If we all still remember, when I was the Johor mentri besar back in 2017, the state government at that time had forwarded to the Federal Government several documents on behalf of Malaysia’s appeal at ICJ.
“This is because the British government had declassified several (pieces of) information where we found information that not only stated but proved Batu Puteh can be fought for as it belongs to Johor,” he added.
Mohamed Khaled, who is also the Defence Minister and Kota Tinggi MP, said this when met after officiating a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) event held at Felda Bukit Aping Timur here on Sunday (Dec 8).
He added that as the state government had the necessary proof, they forwarded it to Putrajaya where it was then under the Barisan Nasional administration and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Mohamed Khaled said it was important for Malaysia to file its appeal then as the government only had a certain time frame to do so or the country would no longer be allowed to stake its claim over it.
“We did forward it to the federal government at that time where they did make an appeal over the case but soon after, a decision was made to no longer pursue it resulting in Malaysia losing Batu Puteh.
“So what happens is now known as stated in the RCI report where the decision in not pursuing the matter was made by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad alone without any discussion,” he added.
On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said elements of treason have been found by the RCI in its report on the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
Anwar said the previous government should have not given up any inch of land as it is considered as a major form of treachery against the country.
“The RCI revealed weaknesses and, from a certain angle, treachery was committed because we should have fought till the end for every inch of land.
“This is not a light matter, whereby any offence in relation to surrendering our sovereignty is deemed a major treason.
“But the legal process must be respected and we will follow that,” said Anwar to reporters after performing Friday prayers in Putrajaya on Friday.
The RCI on the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan has proposed that a criminal investigation be brought against former premier Dr Mahathir.
In a highly redacted and declassified report tabled on MP’s desks in Parliament on Thursday, the RCI report recommended investigations over offences of cheating under Sections 415(b), 417, and 418 of the Penal Code, that resulted in the loss of Batu Puteh.
It also recommended that the RCI secretary lodge a police report to initiate the probe.
The RCI report will be tabled and debated in the Dewan Rakyat meeting next week.
In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore while Batuan Tengah was awarded to Malaysia.
It also ruled that the ownership of Tubir Selatan should be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters, with sovereignty over Tubir Selatan belonging to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.
