Malaysia’s Ex-PM Mahathir Refutes Treachery Claims Over Pedra Branca Decision

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Denial of Treachery Allegations

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has strongly denied allegations of treachery stemming from his government’s 2018 decision to drop claims over two disputed islets, including Pedra Branca. The accusations surfaced after a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) called for a criminal investigation against the 99-year-old leader.

The RCI report suggested that Mahathir’s administration’s withdrawal of Malaysia’s bid to challenge the World Court ruling on Pedra Branca’s sovereignty and another disputed islet lacked justification.

Cabinet’s Role in the Decision

Mahathir clarified that the decision to withdraw the claims was made collectively by his Cabinet based on legal advice. He criticized the inquiry for excluding other Cabinet members as witnesses or subjects of investigation.

“All these people were present in the Cabinet meeting. If they had objections to the decision, they could have voiced them, but none did,” he stated.

Political Motivation Behind the Inquiry

Mahathir accused the RCI of being a politically motivated effort to tarnish his legacy. He dismissed claims by current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that the findings indicated treachery.

Mahathir countered, “If I am treacherous, then so was my deputy at the time,” referring to Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar’s wife, who served as deputy premier in his administration.

Longstanding Rivalry with Anwar

The decades-long rivalry between Mahathir and Anwar continues to shape Malaysian politics. Although the two joined forces to oust the Barisan Nasional government in 2018, their alliance collapsed within two years due to internal conflicts.

Anwar, who became prime minister in 2022 with a pledge to combat corruption, has faced criticism for allegedly using legal proceedings to target political opponents. He has denied these accusations, asserting that he does not interfere in judicial matters.