KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) regarding Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge will hopefully not share the same fate as the RCI on the book written by former Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr. Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the people welcomed the Cabinet's decision to establish the RCI for Pulau Batu Puteh and said it should have been done a long time ago.
"Hopefully, the RCI for Pulau Batu Puteh will not be delayed as long as the RCI on Tommy Thomas' memoir.
"Justice was delayed when the RCI on the book was delayed," he explained.
Meanwhile, Mohd Puad said that were many 'mysteries' that needed to be unraveled regarding the actions of former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who did not pursue action to defend the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh during his administration.
The Rengit State assemblyman said failure to conduct a thorough investigation would affect the government's image.
"In the case of Pulau Batu Puteh, too many mysteries have occurred. Why did Tun M withdraw the review application of the ICJ decision favoring Singapore?
"What is the intention behind the withdrawal? Was the Cabinet informed? Why withdraw hastily after becoming the 7th PM? What was Tommy Thomas's role?
"Hopefully, the RCI for Pulau Batu Puteh will not be just for show. It will affect the government's image. The country loses territory. Those who jeopardise the country's sovereignty must be held accountable," he said.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Cabinet had discussed the establishment of an RCI to investigate the dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge.
The RCI will be established after the inauguration of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31.
Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge are three small islands between Johor and Singapore, which have been a point of contention between the two countries.
In 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Pulau Batu Puteh belongs to Singapore, while Middle Rocks belongs to Malaysia.
The ownership of South Ledge, located about four kilometers from Pulau Batu Puteh, will be determined based on the maritime boundaries of the country that controls it.
On May 28, 2018, the PH government under Mahathir's leadership withdrew the application filed the previous year to overturn the ICJ decision granting legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore.
Meanwhile, the RCI to investigate Tommy Thomas's book, "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness," has not been established even though its formation was approved by the government in January last year.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said stated that the government has given approval for the establishment of the RCI to thoroughly examine issues related to the integrity and independence of the country's judiciary and legislation.