PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Malaysia's withdrawal of its application to review the International Court of Justice's ruling on Batu Puteh's sovereignty as exposing weaknesses and betrayal of the country.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Putrajaya, Anwar emphasised that safeguarding every inch of the nation's sovereignty is paramount.
"The RCI revealed weaknesses and, in some aspects, betrayal, as every inch of our land must be defended to the utmost. The failure to do so has now been exposed," he said.
"This is no trivial matter. Any wrongdoing involving the relinquishment of sovereignty constitutes a serious betrayal."
Anwar also said that follow-up actions following the revelation of the RCI report that was tabled in Parliament yesterday would be left to the rule of law.
"The legal process must be respected, so we shall observe the next steps in this process," he said.
Yesterday, the RCI, among its legal suggestions, recommended that a criminal investigation be launched against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to the RCI, a criminal investigation can be initiated against Dr Mahathir, for offences under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code which covers cheating by intentionally inducing the person so deceived to do something that can cause damage or harm to any person in body, mind, reputation, or property.
As such, the RCI proposed that a police report be made by the secretary of the commission to enable the investigation to commence.
On Aug 29, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said the RCI report on the Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge issue would be tabled in Parliament, after the report was presented to the cabinet on Aug 28.
The RCI, chaired by Tun Md Raus Sharif was tasked with reviewing the handling of matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge.
In February, the government announced that Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia had consented to the establishment of the RCI.
The issue stems from a decision made by the government in 2018 to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the International Court of Justice's decision on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh.
At the time, the government was led by Dr Mahathir.
In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore while Middle Rocks was awarded to Malaysia.
It also ruled that the ownership of South Ledge would be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters.
Malaysia applied to review ICJ's ruling in 2017 but it was then withdrawn in May 2018.
The RCI report said that Malaysia could refile the new interpretation application at any appropriate time.
The RCI also said the loss of sovereignty over Batu Puteh, as decided by the ICJ on May 23, 2008, should serve as a lesson, emphasising that weaknesses, carelessness and a complacent attitude in matters involving national sovereignty, as seen in that case, must not be repeated.