KUALA LUMPUR: The motion to debate the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge in the Dewan Rakyat is not aimed at prosecuting any individual involved.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, when winding up the debate on the motion, said the government's intention is solely to consider the recommendations and decisions for addressing the shortcomings related to Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
"The issue of accusing or otherwise, the issue of the Attorney-General (AG) is not a government matter, and in the constitution, we all know that the AG is an independent individual.
"If there is a police report, the police conduct an investigation, then the AG makes a decision.
"If there is no police report, how can we direct the police to investigate or instruct the AG to charge someone? That is not possible," she said.
Regarding the 47 out of 217 pages of the report that had been redacted, Azalina said this was due to concerns about national security risks, sensitive diplomatic relations and the protection of individuals' privacy.
She added that some content of the report, if disclosed publicly, could jeopardise national security or its operations, with certain redacted information being sensitive, including issues relating to defence, intelligence and other strategic matters.
"Regarding diplomatic sensitivity, the waters around Batu Puteh remain a disputed territorial sea between Malaysia and Singapore.
"The report contains sensitive information concerning ongoing negotiations and details of discussions between both countries, which could affect ongoing relations or future negotiations," she said, adding that the exhibits in the report contain sensitive personal information about individuals, officers and private witnesses, which had also been redacted for personal data protection.
She also said the report demonstrated the Madani government's willingness to make the case report public, in contrast to the decision made by the previous administration on the same case.
"I hope that the members of parliament who were once ministers under Bera (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri) do not forget that on pages 3, 4, and 5, it states that, as of Oct 8 2021, the cabinet agreed to establish a special task force to review the laws regarding Batu Puteh.
"Following a cabinet meeting on Dec 22 2021, the ministers also agreed on the appointment of Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali as the chairman of the special task force.
"The report from the special task force is that they agreed, but the difference is that they agreed that this report should remain confidential, whereas the Madani government wants this report to be declassified."
In concluding her speech, Azalina invoked Standing Order 12(1) to request that the Dewan Rakyat session be adjourned.
Meanwhile, no voting was made on the RCI motion.