UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi said that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir should be sued over Malaysia losing its rights over Pulau Batu Puteh.
“He should accept responsibility for this and pay damages. Malaysia’s loss of sovereign rights over the island cannot be remedied until the end of times,” he said, in a Facebook post.
The Pulau Batu Puteh issue is back in the limelight as the Government decided to form a committee to take a second look into the issue and probe whether there was negligence involved on the matter.
The committee is headed by former Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
In 2008, the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) awarded rights over Pulau Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca to Singapore. However, Malaysia won sovereignty over Middle Rocks and the South Ledge.
As the 10-year timeline appeal loomed in 2018, then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided not file an appeal against it citing various factors, including cost.
With the issue back in the limelight, several prominent personalities including Johor Ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Penang deputy chief minister Prof P Ramasamy has called for action to be taken if negligence was found in the decision made.
“Why? This is what upsets me most. We declared defeat even before going into battle. Was Johor’s sovereignty not important to the Government at the time?
“How would Kedahans feel if Malaysia lost Langkawi to Thailand?” His Majesty queried last week.
Touching on the matter, Puad said that on Feb 2, 2017, then premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had filed an appeal at the ICJ on the case.
However, he alleged that Mahathir had secretly told the then acting AG to withdraw the appeal on May 28, 2018.
“The people only got to know about this recently. Isn’t it devious? We have lost Pulau Batu Puteh forever,” the former deputy minister remarked. – Oct 17, 2021.
