Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has sharply criticized former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, accusing him of attempting to shift blame regarding the Batu Puteh territorial dispute. The controversy revolves around the findings of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), which alleged that Mahathir acted unilaterally in dropping Malaysia's legal applications related to the matter.
Speaking to reporters after a home ministry event in Putrajaya, Saifuddin compared Mahathir’s recent actions to those of a desperate individual. "When people are drowning, they will grasp for anything they can reach. That’s his current situation," Saifuddin remarked, emphasizing that the RCI’s detailed report should serve as the definitive reference on the issue.
The RCI revealed that Mahathir had instructed Malaysia’s solicitor-general in May 2018 to halt two legal proceedings tied to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 2008 decision on Batu Puteh. The ICJ ruling had granted sovereignty over Batu Puteh to Singapore, while Malaysia retained Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
Mahathir, however, denied acting unilaterally. On Tuesday, he claimed that the matter was raised during a 2018 Cabinet meeting, where key figures, including then Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, were present. According to Mahathir, no one voiced opposition, which he interpreted as tacit approval.
In response, Wan Azizah, along with former transport minister Anthony Loke and ex-defense minister Mohamad Sabu, issued a joint statement challenging Mahathir's account. They asserted that the Cabinet was informed of his decision only after it had already been made. “There was no room for decision-making,” they stated, adding that Mahathir had formalized his directive in writing prior to the meeting.
According to the RCI findings, Mahathir's written instruction to the solicitor-general was dated May 21, 2018. The directive instructed that the legal applications “need not be continued.” This decision was communicated to Singapore on the morning of May 23, 2018, before the Cabinet convened later that day. During the meeting, the matter was reportedly discussed under "other matters," by which time the decision was effectively a foregone conclusion.
The RCI has recommended filing a police report against Mahathir for alleged misconduct. However, dissenting opinions from two commission members have cast doubt on the recommendation, raising questions about its impartiality and potential political motivations.
Saifuddin’s remarks signal the growing tension surrounding Mahathir’s role in the Batu Puteh issue. His comments underscore the broader frustrations within PH regarding Mahathir’s recent attempts to deflect criticism. "We will stick to the facts in the RCI report. His recent statements are merely an attempt to drag others down with him," Saifuddin reiterated.
The Batu Puteh case remains a sensitive issue for Malaysia, given its implications for sovereignty and diplomatic relations with Singapore. As the RCI report continues to dominate political discourse, the fallout from its findings is likely to further strain Mahathir's legacy and relationships within the PH coalition.
Information Source: Kosmo/ FMT
Kamran is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.