NGO Lodges Police Report Against Dr Mahathir Over Batu Puteh Case

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Sekretariat Gerak Gempur Media Sosial Rakyat (SGGMSR) together with representatives from 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today lodged a police report against Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad regarding the Batu Puteh case.

The coalition's spokesperson Shahbudin Embun said his party had requested the police to investigate whether the former Prime Minister's action in not pursuing the review application against the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision involved negligence, abuse of power or failure to comply with procedures.

"The decision has major implications for the country's sovereignty because Malaysia has lost the right to defend Batu Puteh.

"I believe Malaysians have the right to know why this decision was made unilaterally and who is fully responsible for the loss of the opportunity to challenge the ICJ decision," he said when met at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters (IPD), here today.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to review the handling of matters relating to the sovereignty case involving Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge in a report circulated to Members of Parliament on Dec 5, recommended that a criminal investigation be initiated against Dr Mahathir.

The commission believes that Dr Mahathir may have deliberately encouraged the then Cabinet not to proceed with the two applications even though it was contrary to the opinion of international consultants who stated that there was a basis and the applications had a chance of success.

Meanwhile, Shahbudin said last Sunday that the NGO had also lodged a police report regarding the actions of a blogger who allegedly insulted and defamed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain on social media.

"Lately he has been making defamatory statements against the Prime Minister every night...

"He also alleged the police had been feeding him information and he was used by the police force for many years to smear the opposition," he said.

Meanwhile, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman when contacted by Bernama confirmed receiving both reports.

-- BERNAMA