Activists file reports against PM, ex-ministers over Batu Puteh RCI findings

Summary

• Activists lodge reports against PM, former ministers, ex-AG over Batu Puteh RCI, urging probe for cheating, intentional insult, and public mischief.

• Report based on PM’s statement that those involved in dropping ICJ review were “traitors”.

Several police reports have been lodged against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, three ministers in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet, and former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali based on the Royal Commission of Inquiry findings on Batu Puteh.

Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said at least two individuals, Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris and Khairuddin Abu Hassan, had separately lodged their reports and more are expected to do so soon.

Rafique in a statement quoted the complainant's reports, which called on police to probe those named under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code on cheating; and Section 504 of the Penal Code on intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace; and Section 505(b) on statements conducting to public mischief.

He said the report against Anwar was based on the prime minister’s statement on Dec 6 that labelled those involved in the Batu Puteh case as traitors, “even though no part of the RCI report stated such a thing”.

“This action is an attempt to deceive and distort the RCI report and to make false accusations intentionally to instill fear, anxiety among the public, and disrupt public order,” he claimed.

‘Deceit and dishonesty’

He said the reports also named Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Mohamad Sabu, and Anthony Loke, all three who served in Mahathir’s cabinet that withdrew Malaysia’s review of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision to award Batu Puteh to Singapore.

“The actions of three ministers in the cabinet, who at the time the Batu Puteh issue was decided, collectively agreed to withdraw the case at the ICJ, but now, six years after the incident, have changed their stance, showing elements of deceit and dishonesty,” he said.

Rafique also said the complainants claimed Apandi as then attorney-general who led Malaysia’s team at the ICJ, was found by the RCI to have conducted inappropriate actions.

“Among other things, he did not involve other parties or agencies, and issues arose regarding costs and public funds,” said Rafique.

Khairuddin, as one of the complainants, in a statement said he believed that the formation of the RCI had “malicious intent from Day One to persecute Mahathir for purposes of Anwar’s political revenge.”

“I vow to fight until the end the travesty that is this RCI report,” he stressed.

‘Lies’

Earlier today,  Mahathir accused Wan Azizah, Mohamad, and Loke of “lying” in their account of the Batu Puteh case, that the nonagenarian had only informed the cabinet after he had made the decision.

Mahathir cited a purported copy of the cabinet meeting minutes to prove that he did not unilaterally decide to withdraw Malaysia’s review of the ICJ decision to award Batu Puteh to Singapore.

He was referring to several documents received by opposition leader Takiyuddin Hassan, who is Kota Bharu MP, which allegedly contains the minutes of Mahathir’s cabinet meeting discussing the Batu Puteh review.

In response to Mahathir, Loke suggested the former prime minister and members of the public read the entire RCI report, which indicated that the cabinet had only endorsed a decision that had already been made.

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