Latest news with #legalaction
Free Malaysia Today
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
No action against Dr M over Batu Puteh due to his age, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said no legal action was taken over the Batu Puteh issue as it involved a 100-year-old former prime minister. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : No legal action was taken against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his role in the Batu Puteh issue due to his age, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today. A royal commission of inquiry (RCI) last year found that Mahathir had likely acted deliberately to influence the Cabinet to discontinue review applications regarding Batu Puteh's sovereignty in 2018, despite the views of international consultants who said the applications had a reasonable likelihood of success. The RCI recommended that a police report be lodged against Mahathir, saying a criminal investigation could be initiated under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code for cheating. 'Was he not wrong? He was wrong,' Anwar said in the Dewan Rakyat today. 'Should we take action? The Cabinet agreed not to. We made a decision because it involved a former prime minister who is 100 years old.' Batu Puteh, situated about 14km south of Johor and 44km east of Singapore, is made up of granite rocks. Middle Rocks and South Ledge are located 1.1km and 4km from Batu Puteh, respectively. In 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia. The ownership of South Ledge was left for determination based on the delimitation of territorial waters. In 2017, Putrajaya applied for the ICJ to review its decision on Batu Puteh and sought an interpretation of certain ambiguities and implications arising from its decision, particularly regarding the status of South Ledge. However, following its victory at the 14th general election in May 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government led by Mahathir withdrew both applications before they came up for hearing the following month. Speaking today, Anwar said talks between Malaysia and Indonesia to jointly develop the disputed oil-rich Ambalat area off the east coast of Borneo would involve Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor. He said the talks in Jakarta on July 29 would include Hajiji as the state's maritime borders would be raised during the discussions, and his views would be needed before any potential resolution of the matter could be reached. 'The process must include approval from the Sabah government. Whenever there are discussions about national boundary delimitation, Sabah's agreement is needed,' he said. Malaysia and Indonesia have overlapping territorial claims on the 15,000 sq km Ambalat sea block, which is said to possess the world's largest crude oil reserves. Last month, Anwar said Malaysia and Indonesia should proceed to jointly develop the area without waiting to resolve legal and regulatory obstacles. Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto also called for accelerated efforts to resolve technical border issues and begin joint economic projects in areas like Ambalat through a joint development authority.
Malay Mail
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Anwar: Dr Mahathir ‘at fault' on Batu Puteh, but Opposition will cry foul if we take a 100-year-old to court
KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — The Cabinet has reportedly decided not to pursue legal action against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over Malaysia's withdrawal of its claim to Pulau Batu Puteh. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision was made in light of Dr Mahathir's age, despite the government maintaining he was at fault. 'We made the decision because it involves a former prime minister who is 100 years old,' Anwar told the Parliament, as quoted by New Straits Times. 'Is he not at fault? He is at fault. Should action be taken? We agreed not to take action.' Anwar added that any move to act against Dr Mahathir could lead to accusations of unfairness by the Opposition. In December 2024, a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) 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 the former prime minister 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 then he was prepared to face any investigation and emphasised his integrity during his time as prime minister. However, 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.
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
B.C. woman sues after father's brain found years after his death, cremation
A B.C. woman says she needed up having her father cremated without his brain, after the vital organ was allegedly mishandled after his death. A Victoria, B.C., woman is taking legal action after her father's brain was found sitting in a hospital fridge over two years after he died. Mandy Large is suing the B.C. Coroners Service and the Vancouver Island Health Authority for negligence and for breaching their duties of care. Her father, Philip Peter Billy, was 55 when he died in Nanaimo on Feb. 27, 2022. His brain was removed for examination during an autopsy and was never put back, Large said. 'They were cleaning out a fridge at Royal Jubilee Hospital and they found my dad's brain in a jar,' she told CTV News Vancouver Island. In an email chain Large shared with CTV News, a coroner confirms her claim. 'When (Billy's brain) was received by Royal Jubilee Hospital it was misplaced in a fridge and not returned to the body. It was found now while the fridge was being cleaned out,' coroner Emily Lefler wrote to Large on Oct. 1, 2024. The coroner's service and the health authority said they cannot comment while the matter is before the court. In April 2022, the notice of civil claim says Billy's body was moved from Nanaimo to Victoria, where Large said he was to be cremated. Billy's brain remained at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and Large said she doesn't know why. A month later, the coroner's service said the brain and body had been reunited, according to the notice of claim. 'But it didn't happen,' Large said, though she didn't know that at the time, so she went ahead with cremating her father. 'My dad being cremated without his brain, it just meant that he was… in the spirit world without a brain,' said Large, who is First Nations. Her email exchange with Lefler suggests a miscommunication led to the alleged mishandling of the brain. 'Royal Jubilee staff were the ones that misplaced the brain and told us it was with the body when it was not,' the coroner wrote. Large describes her father as a gentle giant with a soft voice and a good soul, despite enduring residential school and having a hard life. 'I found some peace in my dad passing away – for him – because he no longer had to struggle,' she said. 'My dad didn't get to die with dignity… He was wronged even after his passing by these systems that are put in place.' She hopes the lawsuit ensures other families don't suffer in the same way. 'What happened to my dad greatly affected me emotionally and mentally and it still affects me today,' she said. His brain has been cremated and reunited with the rest of his remains, she said.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Donald Trump Scotland visit could lead to legal action from police officers
Police in Scotland are weighing up legal action over plans for Donald Trump 's visit to the country this month. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents 98% of all police officers in the country, are weighing up legal action against Police Scotland in a dispute over health and safety standards that could put officers at risk. The SPF says the the force has already breached health and safety standards in the run up to the visit by the US president. David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, suggested planning for the visit has already put officers at risk. He said: 'We currently have workforce agreements in place to protect police officers and provide minimum standards of Health and Safety at work. 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of Potus (President of the United States) and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Speaking to STV News, Mr Kennedy said he had 'major concerns' about the plans to police Mr Trump's trip. He told the broadcaster: 'We do not have enough police officers in Scotland. 'Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from. 'We know what police officers have to do day in, day out and we need more officers in Scotland. 'When these events come along that puts those officers that are here under so much pressure.' Thousands of officers are expected to be involved in what Police Scotland has described as a 'significant policing operation'. Police Scotland said earlier this month it would seek help from the Scottish and UK Governments over the 'considerable' cost of policing the visit. It has also asked for support from Northern Ireland's police force, the PSNI. Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.' A spokesperson for the PSNI said: 'There are well established processes for any UK-based police services to request support from other services at times of peak demand. 'These requests are managed via the National Police Co-ordination Centre (NPoCC) and we can confirm that PSNI have received a request to provide mutual aid to Police Scotland which we are currently assessing. 'The decision to provide officers under the mutual aid process will be considered against our own demands, ensuring that we retain the capacity to respond effectively to local issues and maintain our own operational competence.' The White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29. He will meet the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the First Minister John Swinney during his private trip. The visit is likely to result in widespread protests, following similar demonstrations during his last visit to Scotland. There had been speculation the King would host the American leader in Scotland after a meeting was suggested at Balmoral or Dumfries House, in a letter he wrote to Mr Trump in February inviting him to make the state visit. But it is understood that both sides will wait until the president's official state visit later this year.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police union threatens legal action over Trump visit
The chief constable of Police Scotland has been threatened with legal action ahead of a visit by Donald Trump. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents more than 16,000 officers, alleged on Monday that workforce agreements to protect the rank and file from working 12-hour shifts had been breached. It said its lawyers had been instructed to examine potential legal action against Police Scotland after some officers were allegedly told they were expected to work 12-hour shifts for up to 10 consecutive days ahead of Mr Trump's visit on Friday. The federation said it had workforce agreements in place to protect officers and provide minimum standards of health and safety at work. It follows warnings by David Threadgold, the SPF chairman, that all officers in Scotland could be affected by the presidential visit, with some expected to work 12-hour shifts, posing a 'challenge' for how they eat, sleep and rest. On Monday, David Kennedy, general secretary of the federation, revealed that two police officers from the north-east who were due to marry this weekend had been told they would have to work. The couple, who have been planning their wedding for a year, have lodged an official request for 'excusal' from duty. Mr Kennedy said he expected the request to be granted but pointed out that police colleagues due to attend as wedding guests would unlikely be able to do so. 'We currently have workforce agreements in place to protect police officers and provide minimum standards of health and safety at work,' Mr Kennedy said. 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of Potus and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Mr Trump is expected to touch down at Prestwick airport on Friday and visit both of his golf courses in Scotland, Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire, between July 25 and July 29. The president will meet Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Aberdeen, while plans are being put in place for Mr Trump to meet John Swinney, the First Minister, according to the Scottish Government. Strict airspace restrictions will also be in place over Mr Trump's inaugural Scottish golf resort as part of a vast security operation. Police Scotland has asked for Northern Irish officers to assist and has submitted a mutual aid request to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for additional officers. Police forces usually make requests ahead of large operations or when their resources are stretched. Mr Kennedy added: 'So, there's two agreements running. We reached an agreement to cover it, and they then have reneged on that agreement and breached our current force agreement that covers everybody. 'The breach of the agreement won't stop the policing of the event, but what it's to do with is how officers are paid and how they're remunerated for any work that takes place during the president's arrival and time here.' Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond of Police Scotland said: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.'
