JOHOR BARU: The state government today demanded that action be taken against all people involved in the decision to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on the Batu Puteh case.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi described the move to withdraw the application as a "dark chapter" in Malaysia's and Johor's history, as it resulted in the loss of the opportunity to reclaim the Johor Sultanate's territorial rights.
"All the rights remaining to claim sovereignty over Batu Puteh have been permanently lost.
"The state government and all the people of Johor express our disappointment over such a betrayal that has occurred.
"For this reason, the state government demands that all people involved be brought to court. They must be judged according to the country's laws for this act of betrayal," he said in a statement today.
Referring to the report on the findings made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, Onn Hafiz said the decision to withdraw the application for a review and interpretation of the ICJ's ruling had been made without a reasonable basis, thus contradicting historical facts and legal advice.
The report, he said, also showed the federal government at the time withdrew the application despite new evidence supporting Malaysia's claim.
"The state government will not compromise with any party that threatens the harmony and sovereignty of the state of Johor or the country.
"The state government also hopes that no party will attempt to spin this issue in a way that threatens the sovereignty of the state and country," he said.
Onn Hafiz added that the state government takes seriously a memorandum submitted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Johor yesterday.
It was reported that more than 1,000 Johoreans, dressed in white, participated in a peaceful gathering held at Dataran Mahkota, Kota Iskandar yesterday to show solidarity over the loss of Batu Puteh to Singapore.
The group also handed a memorandum, signed by 3,000 people, to the Johor Menteri Besar's chief private secretary Dr Joharudin Sameon@Mingan during the gathering.
State Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros, said the purpose of the gathering was to demonstrate the consensus of the people of Johor in defending the country's sovereignty.