Johor ready to help task force on disputed territories claim

 

In 2017, Malaysia had filed for a review of the International Court of Justice’s decision in 2008 that Singapore had sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Johor state government has pledged its full support for the government’s review of the Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh sovereignty case.

It pledged its full backing to bring anyone found to have committed wrongdoings to justice.

In a statement, Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad said the state government welcomed the government’s move to establish a task force and said the issue is important to those in the state due to the disputed territories’ proximity.

He said the state government was willing to assist the task force in obtaining the necessary documents for the review and offer other forms of expert advice if needed.

“The state government will provide full support for legal action under the ‘tort of misfeasance’ against any party found to have committed negligence and an error in not continuing the application for review and interpretation of the case,” he said.

“Based on the findings from the investigation, the state government is also ready to take legal action against those responsible.”

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the Cabinet had agreed to set up a special task force to review laws relevant to the case. It will be led by former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

“Such efforts will be aimed at re-checking laws relating to the review, interpretation and application to the case. The Cabinet has also decided to get legal views relating to the laws of tort of misfeasance,” he said.

On Feb 3, 2017, the Malaysian government filed an application for review of the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on May 23, 2008, which ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, Malaysia had sovereignty over Terumbu Karang Tengah and that the sovereignty of South Ledge belonged to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.

However, in 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government withdrew the application before the case was scheduled to be heard.

On May 28 this year, an individual, Mohd Hatta Sanuri, 45, filed a suit against the prime minister and the government of Malaysia, seeking a written explanation regarding the withdrawal of the review application. - FMT