PENAMPANG, Jan 25 — The move to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to review the issue of Malaysia’s sovereignty over Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan will facilitate additional investigations to uncover the truth behind the issue.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said establishing the RCI will also assist the government in processes and procedures related to national sovereignty.
“The issue of sovereignty cannot be decided by just one person. There can be no mistakes with sovereignty.
“We must learn from what happened with the Sulus. Sovereignty is about borders, islands, and many (other) things,” she said.
Azalina was speaking to the press after launching the “Justice On Wheels” van at Dewan Gawir, Kampung Madsiang, today.
She added the RCI will also assist the government in determining the agency responsible for matters involving sovereignty.
Although the special task force on Batu Puteh had concluded its report, the matter was still subject to the Official Secrets Act 1972 and had not been made public yet.
“So this RCI is more open. The people must understand our geopolitics. Our nation, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is very concerned about sovereignty.
“What happened with Batu Puteh previously should not happen to other islands under our control, whether state or Federal,” Azalina said.
The minister said she will be tabling the State Immunity Bill during the next Parliament session to safeguard Malaysia’s sovereignty from being challenged.
Yesterday, during the Cabinet meeting, an agreement was reached to establish an RCI tasked with examining the management of issues related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said the RCI was established under the Commission of Inquiry Act 1950 (Act 119), with the proposed members of the commission to be approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
— Bernama
