Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today rejected suggestions of treachery in his handling of Malaysia’s claim over Batu Puteh, saying he did not profit from the discontinuation of Malaysia’s legal appeal.
He claimed in a press conference today that he had acted out of national interest at the time.
“How can you describe it as treacherous when I did it without any personal gain?
“If I was treacherous, then the whole Cabinet including the deputy prime minister at the time was also treacherous,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference today at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.
Dr Mahathir was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks that the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge revealed “treachery” against the nation.
Dr Mahathir’s deputy prime minister at the time was Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar’s wife.
“I want to point out that the decision was actually made by the cabinet. The whole process was gone through.
“And if I’m treacherous, then the whole cabinet including my DPM was also treacherous,” Mahathir added.
According to the former Langkawi MP, the decision to withdraw the appeal against the International Court of Justice decision – which awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore – was made to honour Malaysia’s undertaking to respect ICJ’s decision in the case whatever it may be.
Mahathir stressed that it was wrong for Malaysia to appeal the ICJ decision in the first place, and experts on international laws had advised the government then that an appeal could adversely affect the country.
This includes losing the trust of other countries for reneging on its promise to respect the court’s decision.
The former PM pointed out that ICJ had also made decisions that favoured Malaysia in other cases, and other countries involved in the dispute had honoured their promise to respect its ruling.
Among them was the decision to award Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan in Sabah to Malaysia.
“And Indonesia did not protest. Of course, they lost two very beautiful islands, but they didn’t protest.
“It is wrong for us to protest (in Batu Puteh case).”
Adding further, Mahathir said while ICJ awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore, the court had given Malaysia the rights to Middle Rocks, which he said has more potential commercial value.
On top of this, the former PM pointed out that Singapore also had a strong point in its case over Batu Puteh, otherwise known as Pedra Branca.
He said Batu Puteh had been administered by Singapore since the British era.
“One time, the British asked Johor if they owned Pedra Branca, and Johor replied they had no interest in that.
“This was one of the strongest points in giving Pedra Branca to Singapore because the Johor government actually said they don’t claim Pedra Branca,” Mahathir said.
In his press conference, Mahathir expressed his belief that the RCI held was politically motivated and aimed at destroying him.