KUALA LUMPUR – The final report to review the laws on the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, currently being prepared by a special task force (STF), will be tabled soon.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in a statement today said the report would be presented for the consideration of the cabinet so as to determine the next course of action.
Wan Junaidi, who chaired the monitoring committee meeting, said the meeting took note of the interim report which was tabled by the STF yesterday, and it also gave its input for consideration and improvement.
“So far, the STF has held 12 meetings which also involved the sub-committees, namely, the legal aspects, tort of misfeasance and Malaysia-Singapore relations,” he added.
The STF team was appointed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to review the laws pertaining to the sovereignty of the disputed isles and to propose the best options for the government to take, within a period of six months.
“The government is very committed to this effort in ensuring sovereignty of the country which is a priority,” Wan Junaidi said.
The STF is chaired by former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, with former Malaysian ambassador to The Hague Datuk Ahmad Nazri Yusof and lawyers Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, Datuk Abu Bakar As-Sidek Mohd Sidek and Datuk Tengku Ahmad Fuad Tengku Ahmad Burhanuddin among its members.
The other members are the Johor government representative, Datuk Mohammed Ridha Abd Kadir; Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar from the Attorney-General’s Chambers; Survey and Mapping Department representative, Hamdan Ab. Aziz and the Foreign Ministry’s representative, Shaharudin Onn. – Bernama, April 26, 2022
