Anwar: Dr M at fault over Batu Puteh but too old to be prosecuted

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite being at fault for the loss of Batu Puteh, no action will be taken against centenarian Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister stated that punishing the 100-year-old former premier would lead to backlash from the Opposition.

“The former prime minister is 100 years old, and was he at fault? Yes, he was wrong.

The Cabinet and I agreed not to take action. If we take action against him, YB Kota Baru will be shouting, saying we are unfair.

“He is already 100 years old and committed a big wrong in the matter. But there is no need for action to be taken,” he said in response to a question raised by Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (July 22).

Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) interjected, saying that Parliament’s Standing Orders did not allow accusations against another if they are not present in the House.

Earlier, Anwar referred to Batu Puteh, which was given away too easily by the former administration under Dr Mahathir, although it also involved the rights of the state of Johor.

In February last year, the government announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to the establishment of the RCI.

The RCI, which concluded in December that year, found weaknesses in the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan.

The issues stemmed from a decision made by the government in 2018 to withdraw Malaysia’s application to review the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh.

At the time, Dr Mahathir led the government.

In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, while Batuan Tengah was awarded to Malaysia.

It also ruled that the ownership of Tubir Selatan should be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters.