KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 — Malaysia will set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to study the handling of cases involving three disputed islets in the Singapore Strait, the Cabinet said yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has previously called for a review of a 2018 decision by Malaysia — under the administration of then-premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad — to drop its application to revise an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Singapore had sovereignty over Pedra Branca, one of the islets.
In a 2008 ruling, the ICJ awarded the Middle Rocks formation to Malaysia while nearby Pedra Branca was given to Singapore.
In 2017, Malaysia sought to have the Pedra Branca part of the ruling overturned but dropped its claim a year later after Dr Mahathir became prime minister.
On Tuesday (January 23), Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said recommendations for the composition of the inquiry panel will be brought to Malaysia's King for approval.
— Reuters
