Pedra Branca issue: Malaysia's inquiry calls for Mahathir to face probe

Royal panel's report recommends criminal investigations for cheating against ex-PM

- Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's probe into how the government handled the review of an international court's ruling on three islets, including Pedra Branca, has recommended "criminal investigations" for cheating against former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the matter also suggested that Malaysia can still make a request "at any suitable time" for interpretation of the 2008 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that handed Pedra Branca to Singapore. But the royal panel said the country should not proceed with such an application.

The RCI's 238-page report was declassified and tabled at Parliament on Dec 5.

"Criminal investigations can begin against Tun Dr Mahathir for an offence under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 417 and 418 of the same code," said the report. The Penal Code sections cited refer to cheating offences with a maximum jail term of seven years.

The RCI said Dr Mahathir had committed a crime by making a unilateral decision, before informing his Cabinet in May 2018, to abandon the two applications to the ICJ for a review of the Pedra Branca case.