KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asserted that, in the past, the Johor government had, through a letter, declared non-ownership of Pulau Batu Puteh.
Despite this, Dr Mahathir said the government had claimed the rocky outcrop island, resulting in a dispute with neighbouring Singapore, which contested the claim.
“For years, Malaysia attempted unsuccessfully to reclaim Pulau Batu Puteh through trials by negotiations; Singapore still claimed the island as theirs.
“What choice did we have?” he said, before citing Malaysia and Singapore’s combined decision to refer the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In May, Mohd Hatta Sanuri had filed a suit against Dr Mahathir and the government seeking a written explanation on the withdrawal of a review application over the ICJ’s decision that Singapore has sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh.
The then Pakatan Harapan government led by Dr Mahathir had in 2018 withdrawn an application to overturn the ICJ’s ruling awarding legal jurisdiction of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore before the case was scheduled to be heard on June 11, 2018.
In a statement, today, the two-time prime minister clarified that both Malaysia and Singapore had earlier agreed in writing not to file any pleas, thus making the ICJ’s ruling final.
He added that the ICJ will only accept the dispute resolution if the agreement is accepted without further questioning and its decision is respected.
“A dignified nation must respect its promises. Only a nation with no dignity will go back on its promises,” he said, stating that the repercussions of the nation falling back on its promises is serious as it risks being ostracised by other countries.
“If you are not confident, do not make promises,” he said after declaring the importance of detailed research prior to agreements.
On October 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced the formation of a special committee to address the Pulau Batu Puteh issue.
He said the application and interpretation of related laws will be reviewed by a team headed by former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
“At the same time, the cabinet also decided to seek legal opinion on possible action under the tort of misfeasance against any quarters found to have committed negligence by not following through on the review application for Pulau Batu Puteh,” he had said. – The Vibes, October 20, 2021
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