JOHOR BARU: Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar demands a clear explanation why the Federal Government under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2018 dropped the review application for the Pulau Batu Puteh case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
His Majesty said that not pursuing the case was as good as admitting defeat even before going into the legal battle in the ICJ.
“We had found new evidence in our favour, but we had no chance to press our case as someone decided to drop the suit. Why? This is what upsets me most.
“We declared defeat even before going into battle. Was Johor’s sovereignty not important to the government at the time? Why were we treated like a step-child state? If you don’t like Johor...
“How would Kedahans feel if Malaysia lost Langkawi to Thailand?” said His Majesty.
Sultan Ibrahim said the special committee set up by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob must ascertain the real reason behind Tun Mahathir’s administration’s decision at the time to abandon the case review.
“If the allegations of negligence in the matter are true, this warrants stern action against those responsible. This is a matter of our nation’s sovereignty,” said His Majesty in a statement posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page here on Thursday (Oct 14).
On Monday (Oct 11), Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said Johor would support any legal action if a task force finds there was negligence or error involved in the Pulau Batu Puteh case.
In welcoming the Federal Government’s decision to review laws relating to the case, he said the state agrees and would provide full support in taking legal action under the “tort of misfeasance” towards any parties found to have committed negligence or errors for not pursuing the application for review and interpretation of the case.
He added that the state government also wants the matter to be expedited so that those who are responsible would be brought to justice immediately.
“Based on the findings from investigations, the state government is ready to take legal action against those responsible,” he said.
Hasni noted that the island, both in terms of history and its proximity to Johor, made it important to its people and the state government.
“Therefore, the state government has given its assurance that it will provide cooperation and assistance to the Federal Government in efforts to obtain various documents and views required,” he said.
On Saturday (Oct 9), Ismail Sabri said the government had decided to form a special task force headed by former attorney general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
“The task force will conduct thorough research and propose suitable options by getting views from experts on international laws.
“Such efforts will be aimed at rechecking laws relating to the review and interpretation application of the case,” he added.
Ismail Sabri said the task force would be given six months to produce findings and recommendations for the Cabinet’s further action.
On May 28, Mohd Hatta Sanuri, 45, sought an order for the government to provide a written explanation as to why it had withdrawn from the review application over the ICJ decision that Singapore has sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh.
Last month, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed an application by the Prime Minister and the government for a time extension to file their statement of defence against the suit.
The Prime Minister and the government, as first and second defendants, have until Oct 23 to file their statement of defence.
Based on the notice of application filed on Sept 7, the defendants had applied for more time on the grounds that the plaintiff’s statement of claim was weighted with matters related to the history of the Pulau Batu Puteh dispute between Malaysia and Singapore since 1979.
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