SANDAKAN – The establishment of a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to examine issues concerning the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge is imperative to prevent a recurrence of such challenges, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform said that while a previous task force had been set up to review sovereignty-related laws, its findings were limited, requiring further investigation through the commission.
“Because the issue right now is that we need to evaluate based on what actually happened. Being the government, we are very fair. We want to inquire, what happened? How did it go wrong? Where did it go wrong?
“The RCI is also to assist the government in finding out the processes and procedures for sovereignty. Which agency has the jurisdiction and is responsible for our sovereignty? National Security Council? The cabinet? All that must be established,” she told reporters after launching the Justice On Wheels programme at Kg Madsiang, in Kota Kinabalu, today.
“But we cannot come out with a certain establishment without really extracting the whole process of the outcome of the task force (which is still confidential). The RCI (unlike the task force) is more open.”
This comes after the cabinet approved the establishment of the RCI to delve into matters surrounding the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge yesterday.
Azalina highlighted the necessity of transparency in the inquiry, stating, “Unlike the task force, the RCI is more open, providing a comprehensive examination of the situation.”
Regarding future legislative measures, she mentioned that the National Immunity Act would be presented in the upcoming parliamentary session to enhance the country’s protection against external threats.
Drawing parallels with the Sulu case, Azalina emphasised the gravity of sovereignty issues and the need for careful consideration.
“The Sulu case is also similar to Batu Puteh, it’s an issue of sovereignty. Sovereignty is not something that can be decided only by one person. There cannot be any mistakes in sovereignty,” she said.
“Moving forward, what happened with Batu Puteh cannot happen to other islands under our control, whether at the state or federal (level).” – January 25, 2024