After Batu Puteh RCI suggests crime, Dr Mahathir claims being made scapegoat

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 10 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed the findings in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge that accused him of crime.

He alleged that the RCI was held to target him, and put all the blame on him for the loss of Malaysia’s claim over the island.

“All the Cabinet members then were briefed at the time.

“If I’m being called as witness, then the Cabinet members at the time should be called in as witnesses too.

“Well, they can’t charge the entire Cabinet, so it seems like they are trying come for me alone,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference today at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

He then called out former ministers who sat in the Cabinet at the time, some who are still ministers today, questioning their silence when he brought the matter to the Cabinet.

“At the time, those who were present were deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Education Minister Maszlee Malik, Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun, Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran, Domestic Trade and Living Costs Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“All these people were there in the Cabinet meeting, and if they had any complaints or objection they should have spoken up, but because they didn’t say anything we assumed that they all agreed.

“I was Prime Minister twice, people in the Cabinet know that some of my proposals in the past were rejected by Cabinet members,” he said.

He said the RCI hearing on Pulau Batu Puteh was conducted in “secrecy” and seemed to frame him as solely responsible for the decision.

“That is not true. I consulted the Cabinet, and I consulted experts.

“The RCI report, 47 pages were blanked out, a lot of things were hidden, and it seems to pinpoint that I’m the one responsible,” he said.

“It seems like they are picking and choosing who they are calling for the RCI to get the results that they want.

Dr Mahathir added that the RCI’s objective appeared to be fault-finding against him and not addressing the Cabinet’s role, saying the Cabinet had a chance to rebut him but they did not do so.

He added that it did not make sense to charge him under criminal law.

“I never worked for Singapore, everyone knows I have been difficult with Singapore..

“With Singapore, we should continue to talk to them. As for Pedra Branca (Batu Puteh), we have gone to the ICJ (International Court of Justice), and the decision by the ICJ must be accepted by us,” he said.

The RCI, through its 217-page report released last Thursday, recommended a criminal investigation against Dr Mahathir under Section 415(b) and Section 418 of the Penal Code.

The issue stems from his 2018 decision to withdraw Malaysia’s application to review the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on Pulau Batu Puteh.

In 2008, the ICJ ruled Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia, and South Ledge’s ownership would depend on territorial waters delimitation.

The RCI did not recommend filing a civil suit against the 99-year-old for misfeasance in public office due to the six-year limitation period for such actions.

It also declined to suggest Malaysia submit a fresh request for interpretation to the ICJ, despite the option being available.

Dr Mahathir said he was prepared to face any investigation and emphasised his integrity during his time as prime minister.

“If there is an investigation against me, I welcome that, as I was very careful during my 22 years as a Prime Minister, even though they are accusing me of stealing money from the government.

“Until now, Anwar cannot prove that I stole money,” he said.

He recalled that during the Cabinet meeting, then deputy prime minister Wan Azizah sat next to him but did not voice any objections.

“She sat next to me, but she didn’t say anything,” he said.

Dr Mahathir speculated that the RCI focused on him while ignoring the rest of the Cabinet to achieve a predetermined outcome.

“If they said that I lied to the Cabinet, the Cabinet has the right to make a report that I lied to the Cabinet,” he said.

When asked if there are “hidden hands” manipulating the situation, Dr Mahathir said there is most likely somebody who had an interest in his case.

“Someone must have a special interest in my case. I’m now in the Opposition, there seems to be an attempt to neutralise me,” he said.