Was Johor’s sovereignty not important, asks Sultan Ibrahim
FMT Reporters-
October 14, 2021 4:04 PM
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PETALING JAYA: Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has questioned why the Pakatan Harapan administration dropped seeking a review of Pulau Batu Puteh’s sovereignty, asking if the state’s sovereignty did not matter to the then government.
He said he wanted action to be taken against those responsible for mistakes or errors that led to the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led government’s decision to drop the case review.
In a statement from the Johor royal press office, the ruler demanded that the special task force set up by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob determine the “real reason” why Mahathir’s administration decided to abandon the case review.
“Not pursuing the case was as good as admitting defeat even before going into the legal battle in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We had found new evidence in our favour, but we had no chance to press our case as someone decided to drop the suit.
“Why? This is what upsets me most. Was Johor’s sovereignty not important to the government at the time? Why were we treated like a stepchild state? How would Kedahans feel if Malaysia lost Langkawi to Thailand?” he asked.
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According to the press office, menteri besar Hasni Mohammad gave the Sultan his assurance that the state government would cooperate and assist in Putrajaya’s special task force.
Earlier this week, FMT reported that Mahathir’s government abandoned the idea of seeking a review of Pulau Batu Puteh’s sovereignty three years ago after weighing the views of foreign legal consultants.
Based on court documents, the then prime minister felt that the review should be discontinued in the interest of the nation and also due to cost implications.
The defence statement sighted by FMT was in response to a suit filed by Mohd Hatta Sanuri on May 28.
The defence statement said the Cabinet also agreed that the review should be abandoned, and the decision was conveyed to the Sultan of Johor on June 4, 2018 while the withdrawal of the review application was recorded in the ICJ on May 29, 2018.
On May 23, 2008, the ICJ ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh while South Ledge would belong to the state in whose territorial waters it is located.
Hes not cut out to be a politician. Najib boleh. Too bad greed overpowered him. Today KTM. Tom maybe whole of Johore.
