Batu Puteh: Now govt mulls declassifying initial task force report

Summary:

• Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil says the government is mulling declassifying the final report of the special task force relating to the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge.

• He says the cabinet will seek the attorney-general’s view on the matter first.

• If declassified, it will be published in full except on matters related to diplomacy, national security, and defence.

The cabinet is planning to declassify the final report of the special task force reviewing laws relating to the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge, said government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil today.

He added that the cabinet will seek the attorney-general’s input on the matter.

This comes after the government tabled and debated the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge yesterday.

“These are two separate reports. The one tabled in Parliament is the RCI report, which mentions the special task force.

“The report (special task force) was formed on Oct 29, 2021, and its final report was tabled at the cabinet on Oct 27, 2022,” Fahmi said during his weekly presser in Putrajaya today.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hit back at critics who claimed the RCI report was declassified to target former premier Dr Mahahir Mohamad.

He said the special task force was established during the premiership of Ismail Sabri Yaakob and its findings were “even worse”.

The establishment of the special task force was announced by Ismail Sabri on Oct 9, 2021. It was chaired by former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

‘Similar recommendations’

On that note, Fahmi took a swipe at the opposition for criticising the government over the RCI report’s recommendations.

Mirroring Anwar’s argument, he pointed out that the special task force was established when Perikatan Nasional politicians Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan and Putrajaya MP Mohd Radzi Md Jidin were part of Ismail Sabri’s cabinet.

“In today’s cabinet meeting, we were informed that the report by the special task force offered similar recommendations as the RCI report.

“And the special task force also recommended charges to a public official for (alleged) dereliction of duty… and that was also recommended by the RCI,” said the communications minister.

Fahmi added: “We will declassify the special task force report in full except on parts which touch on diplomatic matters, national security, and defence.”

Meanwhile, he said the RCI report was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat to improve policymaking and was not meant as a vendetta against anyone.

“We want to avoid mistakes and ensure the way this was handled is not repeated. That is our intention, not vendetta or to cast someone in a particular way, especially since both reports make the same recommendations.

“So, for me, this is not an issue of being ultranationalist or vendetta, but it involves dereliction of duty by a public servant,” he said, in response to a statement by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in Parliament.

Syed Saddiq had said he did not think the day would come when people would accuse Mahathir - whom some consider to be ultra-Malay - to place Singapore’s interests above that of Malaysia’s.

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