Ex Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has pushed back against the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, accusing the panel of unfairly targeting him. The RCI, which recommended a criminal investigation into Dr. Mahathir’s handling of Malaysia's claim over Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge, suggested that he committed offenses under Malaysia's Penal Code.
Dr. Mahathir claimed during a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation that he is being used as a scapegoat for decisions that were collectively made by his Cabinet. “I acted in the national interest. If I am accused of treachery, then so should the entire Cabinet, including my then-deputy prime minister, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail,” he said.
He named several key ministers present during the Cabinet discussions on Batu Puteh, such as Muhyiddin Yassin, Lim Guan Eng, and Anthony Loke, emphasizing their silence at the time. “If there were objections, they should have spoken up. The Cabinet’s agreement was taken as consensus,” he added.
The RCI’s findings stem from Dr. Mahathir's 2018 decision to withdraw Malaysia’s bid to review the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore. He argued that the ICJ ruling must be respected and noted that Malaysia had consulted legal experts and the Cabinet before proceeding.
However, Dr. Mahathir expressed concern over what he called the selective focus of the RCI. He alleged that the inquiry was conducted in secrecy, with crucial parts of the 217-page report redacted. “The RCI seems designed to pin the blame solely on me, ignoring the collective responsibility of the Cabinet,” he said.
He also questioned why the RCI did not recommend legal action against other Cabinet members or propose reopening Malaysia’s claim with the ICJ. “If they believe I misled the Cabinet, then the Cabinet had every right to raise objections or file complaints,” he stated.
Dr. Mahathir dismissed accusations of working against Malaysia’s interests, stressing his firm stance in dealings with Singapore during his tenure. He suggested that political motives might be behind the RCI’s conclusions, pointing to his current position in the opposition.
“Someone with a special interest is likely behind this. The timing and the focus seem designed to neutralize me,” he speculated.
He concluded by reiterating his openness to investigation, maintaining his integrity during his time in office. “I have never stolen from the government, and accusations against me remain unproven,” he said, calling for transparency in the inquiry process.
Information Source: Malay Mail
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