Only the guilty need immunity, says former Malaysian PM Mahathir on disputed island Batu Putih issue
'Immunity is for people who are afraid to go to court because they know they are guilty. I know I am innocent and I want to prove it,' the former prime minister said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 23).
He said Parliament had 'found him guilty' over his role in the Batu Puteh issue.
'In the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (July 22), I was found guilty in the case of not making an appeal over Batu Putih,' he said.
'Even though I was found guilty, no action will be taken because of my age.
'The one who found me guilty is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
'He also said no action should be taken against me because I am 100 years old,' he said.
Anwar in Parliament on Tuesday had said although an inquiry had found Dr Mahathir likely responsible for the loss of Batu Puteh to Singapore, no legal action was initiated due to his age.
In February 2024, the government announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government's 2018 decision to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh.
At the time, Dr Mahathir led the government.
In 2008, the ICJ ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, while Batuan Tengah was awarded to Malaysia.
It also ruled that the ownership of Tubir Selatan should be determined based on the delimitation of territorial waters.
The RCI, which concluded in December 2024, found weaknesses in the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah and Tubir Selatan.
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