Hanipa Warns Anwar Against Premature Comments On Batu Puteh Case

---

 


Former deputy minister Hanipa Maidin has cautioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim against issuing “premature remarks” on legal matters surrounding the Pulau Batu Puteh issue.
Hanipa cited Anwar’s recent statement that a cabinet decision not to pursue further actions against Mahathir, despite recommendations by a royal commission of inquiry (RCI), did not override any decision by the attorney-general.
Anwar also said there was no question of prosecuting Mahathir as no criminal investigation had been initiated.
“If the decision to prosecute has not even arisen because investigations have not been conducted, why did the prime minister declare in Parliament that Mahathir is already guilty?
ADS“Isn’t that odd?” Hanipa asked in a statement today.
On Tuesday, Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that the cabinet had decided not to pursue legal action against Mahathir over the Batu Puteh matter, citing the latter’s age - despite asserting that Mahathir had been “wrong” in his actions.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimFollowing Anwar’s statement, Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan argued that the prime minister had misled the House, stressing that only the attorney-general has the authority to initiate or drop criminal charges - not the prime minister.
Takiyuddin also said he would propose to refer Anwar to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee over the matter.
Commenting further, Hanipa said Anwar’s initial comments and subsequent explanation in response to Takiyuddin had only compounded the issue.
“The prime minister’s earlier remarks were, in my view, clearly wrong. This latest statement only makes the situation worse,” he added.
‘I don’t need immunity’
In response, the 100-year-old Mahathir had challenged Anwar to take him to court, declaring that he did not need any “immunity” due to old age and was ready to defend himself.
“Immunity is only for those who fear being dragged to court as they know they are guilty,” said Mahathir, who reiterated the same stance at the “Turun Anwar” rally in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Pulau Batu PutehIn December last year, the RCI into Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan recommended that Mahathir be investigated for allegedly misleading the cabinet into withdrawing Malaysia’s bid to review a 2008 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore.
The RCI report, declassified in Parliament on Dec 5, claimed that Malaysia had a chance to overturn the ICJ’s decision but was thwarted by the withdrawal. - Mkini

---