PUTRAJAYA: The final report by the Special Task Force on Batu Puteh is also likely to be declassified, weeks after the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s (RCI) reports on the issue were released.
The Cabinet has proposed to the Attorney General to consider declassifying the task force’s report, said Unity Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil.
At a press conference here, the Communications Minister said the declassification of the task force’s report would be comprehensive except for matters related to diplomacy, security and national defence.
He said this report was different from that of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to review the handling of matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge, which was tabled in Parliament on Dec 5.“These are two different documents.
The one tabled in Parliament is the RCI report, and in the RCI report, there is also a reference to a report by the Special Task Force.
“The (other) report revolves around the findings of the investigation by the Special Task Force, which was established on Oct 29, 2021, and had its final report tabled to the Cabinet on Oct 7, 2022,” he said, according to Bernama.
However, Fahmi said the Cabinet meeting yesterday was informed that the special task force’s findings were similar to the RCI’s recommendations.
Fahmi said the special task force report was initiated during the administration of the 9th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, with Kota Baru MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut) and Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (Putrajaya) being members of the Cabinet at that time.
“The Special Task Force report recommended prosecution based on misfeasance or neglect of duty by a public officer, and this is also what was recommended by the RCI report.
“For the Honorable Members of Kota Bharu, Larut and Putrajaya to act as if what was recommended by the RCI is vastly different from the report they read while they were in the Cabinet is quite peculiar,” he said, Bernama reported.
Meanwhile, Fahmi also denied any element of revenge in the RCI, as it was implemented to ensure no mistakes were repeated by any party.
“We want to avoid mistakes or the way something was handled in the past from being repeated. That is our intention, not revenge or to paint someone in a bad light.
“Moreover, both reports recommend the same thing. Misfeasance. Both reports said the same thing. So for me, this is not an issue of ultra-nationalism or revenge, but it involves the neglect of duty by someone who should be responsible,” he said.
On Oct 29, 2021, the Cabinet agreed to form the Special Task Force to review legal matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, chaired by former Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
The RCI, in its 217-page report, recommended that a criminal investigation be initiated against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
