PUTRAJAYA — The Cabinet has proposed to the Attorney-General to consider declassifying the final report of the Special Task Force on Batu Puteh, said Unity Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil (picture).
In a press conference here today, the Minister of Communications said the declassification of the Special Task Force’s final report would be comprehensive except for matters related to diplomacy, security, and national defence.
Fahmi explained that the report proposed to be declassified is different from the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to review the handling of matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks, and South Ledge, which was recently tabled in Parliament.
“These are two different documents. The one tabled in Parliament is the RCI report, and in the RCI report, there is also a reference to a report by the Special Task Force.
“The (second) report revolves around the findings of the investigation by the Special Task Force, which was established on Oct 29, 2021, and had its final report tabled to the Cabinet on Oct 7, 2022,” he said.
Fahmi also said the Special Task Force report was initiated during the administration of the 9th Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, with Kota Bharu Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), and Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (Putrajaya) being members of the Cabinet at that time.
According to Fahmi, today’s Cabinet meeting was also informed that the findings from the Special Task Force’s investigation were similar to the recommendations made by the RCI, meaning that both entities had noticed the same issues.
“The Special Task Force report recommended prosecution based on misfeasance or neglect of duty by a public officer, and this is also what was recommended by the RCI report.
“So, for the Honorable Members of Kota Bharu, Larut, and Putrajaya to act as if what was recommended by the RCI is vastly different from the report they themselves read while they were in the Cabinet is quite peculiar,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi also denied any element of revenge in the RCI, as it was implemented to ensure no mistakes are repeated by any party.
“We want to avoid mistakes or the way something was handled in the past from being repeated. That is our intention, not out of revenge or to paint someone in a bad light.
“Moreover, both reports recommend the same thing. Misfeasance. Both reports said the same thing. So for me, this is not an issue of ultra-nationalism or revenge, but it involves the neglect of duty by someone who should be responsible,” he said.
On Oct 29, 2021, the Cabinet agreed to form the Special Task Force to review legal matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge, chaired by former Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
The RCI, in its 217-page report, recommended that a criminal investigation be initiated against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. — BERNAMA