PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) says the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the handling of matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah and Tubir Selatan is not an act of revenge against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar said on Friday (Dec 13) that the narrative of vengeance should not be raised over the issue, especially by the Opposition.
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"There is no such thing (as revenge). The Special Task Force was set up before my time. It was when Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was prime minister, (and) the ministers (involved then) were Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
"(The task force) findings were far worse. (So), don't play (the revenge narrative)," he told the media after Friday prayers at Surau Darul Ulum, SMKA Putrajaya in Presint 11 here.
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On Oct 8, 2021, the Cabinet at the time agreed to establish the task force to review matters related to Batu Puteh.
Anwar reiterated that the RCI was established to defend the country's sovereignty.
"This is a matter of territory. Where is it possible... (that) a country... allows (its territory) to be handed over so easily?" he said.
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On Thursday (Dec 12), several Opposition MPs claimed that the Batu Puteh RCI procedure was vindictive.
Asked if former prime minister Dr Mahathir should be subject to action as recommended in the RCI, Anwar said: "I am not suggesting anything. I leave that to the Attorney General's Chambers".
Last week, in a highly redacted and declassified report tabled in Parliament, the RCI report recommended that investigations cover offences of cheating under Sections 415 (b), 417 and 418 of the Penal Code, that resulted in the loss of Batu Puteh. – Bernama
