PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge will be debated in the Dewan Rakyat next week, likely on Wednesday or Thursday, says Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said the matter was not discussed in detail during the Cabinet meeting but was raised by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
“The issue of the RCI on Batu Puteh was not specifically discussed during Friday’s (Dec 6) Cabinet meeting.
“However, Azalina informed us that it had been tabled and will be brought to Parliament for debate, possibly on Wednesday or Thursday (next week),” Fahmi said during the Communication Ministry's weekly press conference here on Friday (Dec 6).
He also referred to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks on the RCI findings, describing the actions of the previous administration as a “clear act of treachery” against Malaysia’s sovereignty.
“The prime minister has commented on what has been described as clear treachery when we read the report - treachery that has occurred,” Fahmi said.
The RCI’s declassified report, released on Thursday (Dec 5), revealed that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government had unilaterally decided to withdraw applications to review and interpret the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 2008 decision, which awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore.
The commission concluded that the decision was made without Cabinet consensus and recommended criminal investigations against Dr Mahathir under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code for cheating.
In 2008, the ICJ granted Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Batu Puteh to Singapore, while leaving the ownership of South Ledge to be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters.
On Feb 3, 2017, Putrajaya submitted an application to review the ICJ’s decision that award Batu Puteh to Singapore.
Later, on June 30 of the same year, Putrajaya filed a separate application seeking clarification of the ICJ’s judgment, particularly to address ambiguities and implications related to South Ledge’s status.
However, after the Pakatan Harapan coalition took control of Putrajaya in the May 2018 general election, the administration led by Dr Mahathir withdrew both applications before they could be heard in June 2018.
