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Mahathir’s lawyer slams Anwar over Malaysia’s ‘politically motivated’ reopening of Singapore’s Pedra Branca issue
- An inquiry panel will look into then-PM Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to withdraw from a review of ICJ’s ruling on the Pedra Branca island
- The inquiry is yet another move by PM Anwar Ibrahim to put ‘political pressure’ on Mahathir following a corruption probe into his son Mirzan
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A public inquiry into a 14-year-old territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over several rocky outcrops is the latest unjustified effort by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to turn the screws on rival Mahathir Mohamad, the 98-year-old’s lawyer said, years after the issue was resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
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In 2008, the ICJ ruled that the island of Pedra Branca, with its Singapore-run lighthouse, belongs to the republic, while Middle Rocks – two uninhabited small rocks – belongs to Malaysia and the South Ledge, a low-tide elevation, “belongs to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located”.
It continues to be a touchy topic in Malaysia, which filed a review of the judgment in 2017, despite the ICJ overwhelmingly siding with Singapore on Pedra Branca.
As announced by the Chief Secretary of the Malaysian government on Wednesday, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) will look into Mahathir’s decision to withdraw from the review, days after taking office in 2018.
Such inquiries are reserved for major matters and the RCI has considerable powers in subpoenaing witnesses.
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