REMBAU: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was referring to a particular personality in a royal family when he claimed there was a plot to pit him against the Malay rulers over the Rome Statute, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said this when asked whether Dr Mahathir’s claim was in reference to someone within Pakatan Harapan.
“The statement was very specific. The PM was making a reference to a specific attempt by a particular personality in the royal household that brought it (Rome Statute) up.
“We need to be careful not to cast aspersions on what Dr Mahathir said. It was clear to me because when I had discussions with him, he elaborated,” said Anwar, who had a 40-minute discussion with Dr Mahathir yesterday.
Anwar also said Malaysia’s decision to withdraw as a signatory of the Rome Statute shows the government is open to views and listens to all quarters including the Conference of Rulers.
The PKR president said Dr Mahathir and the government were wise not to accede to the treaty, so as to avoid “problems.”
“This matter (withdrawal) has to be explained further (to the people),” he told reporters after attending an event with military veterans at Bandar Sri Sendayan near Rantau here today.
Asked whether he was disappointed with Malaysia’s move to withdraw from the treaty, Anwar said the principles behind the Rome Statute promoted change, transparency and the rule of law.
“But we have to also accept the fact that there are problems and concerns that had to be addressed.
“Just like the ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) issue, the interpretation and negativity played up by the opposition have to be taken into account,” he said.
About one month after ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court the government decided to withdraw as a signatory due to the smear campaign against it.
The announcement was made yesterday by Dr Mahathir, who said the decision to withdraw as a signatory was not because of claims that it could harm Malaysia.
“It is because of the confusion created by one particular person who wants to be free to beat up people and things like that. If he beats up people, I will send the police to arrest him, I don’t care who he is,” the prime minister had said.
Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar was reported in March to have accused the federal government, in his birthday speech, of violating the Federal Constitution by signing the Rome Statute.
Sultan Ibrahim said this, along with the attempt to ratify ICERD, had touched on the monarchy, Malay privileges, and the sanctity of Islam.
He said those who touched on the rights and powers of a monarch or state government had violated national laws and should be regarded as traitors.
Tengku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail had also criticised Putrajaya for undermining the Conference of Rulers when it went ahead to accede to the treaty without prior consultation.