KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 – Vice -president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin congratulated the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for setting up a special task force to study suitable options over the Pulau Batu Putih (Pedra Branca) issue.

He also questioned why the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government failed to clarify its decision not to review proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Such an important decision should be explained in Parliament. By setting up a special task force on the Pulau Batu Putih, it is very important for this team to explain in its report the real matter that caused PH to withdraw the review of its judgment.

“Malaysians should know whether the action is careless and ignores the national interest. Next, who should be held responsible for the failure to continue reviewing the decision,” he said regarding the issue.

He explained that other races died to defend even an inch of their homeland but the PH government gave up all efforts to defend the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Putih.

“Their actions are ‘the neglect of duty of the highest order’. They must be held accountable if they are careless, reckless and turn their backs on the national interest. “

Earlier, he cited the decision of the ICJ in 2008 ruled that Pulau Batu Putih is a sovereign territory of Singapore, and in Feb 2017, the Attorney General filed an application for review it on the grounds that there were new evidence. A hearing date for review was set for June 11, 2018.

“After Tun Mahathir Mohammad was appointed the 7th Prime Minister, PH decided not to continue with it, and Malaysia lost ownership of Pulau Batu Putih forever. ”

It was reported that last Saturday, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri decided on the task force after chairing a cabinet meeting on Friday.

This effort aims to review the law on applications for review and interpretation in the case of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh. The special task force will be chaired by former Attorney -General, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.

At the same time, the Cabinet has also decided to seek preliminary legal views on legal action under the ‘Tort of Misfeasance’ against any party found to have committed negligence and error due to not proceeding with the application for review.