PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge was not initiated to target any individuals.
He said the opposition should not spread the claim of vendetta because the task force to look into the matter was set up during former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration.
"There's no such thing. The special task force was formed before my time, during Ismail Sabri's tenure as prime minister.
"The ministers then were (Datuk Seri) Hamzah Zainudin and (Datuk Seri) Takiyuddin Hassan."
He said the task force looked into the matter and "the findings were severe".
He was speaking after Friday prayer here.
Yesterday, opposition members of parliament claimed the RCI was launched as an act of political revenge against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Pasir Mas MP Fadhli Shaari said the investigation was unfair and did not give Dr Mahathir room to defend himself.
On Oct 8, 2021, the cabinet agreed to establish a task force to review the laws related to Batu Puteh.
"This is a matter of sovereignty. Can any country allow (its territory) to be easily handed over like that? That is the principle," Anwar said.
Asked whether Dr Mahathir should be probed, as recommended by the RCI, Anwar said he would leave it to the attorney-general.
"I did not recommend anything. I leave it to the Attorney-General."