Rome Statute ratification nixed because of royal interference, says Anwar

Timothy Achariam Timothy Achariam Updated 5 years ago · Published on 6 Apr 2019 8:38PM · 3 Comments

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said the prime minister was making a reference to a specific attempt by a particular personality in the royal family who had compelled Malaysia to backtrack on signing the Rome Statute. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, April 6, 2019.

THE prime minister was referring to a certain royal personality when he announced that Malaysia was compelled to withdraw from ratifying the Rome Statute because “a particular person wants to be free to beat up people”, Anwar Ibrahim said today. 

The PKR president said this when asked if Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been alluding to a person in Pakatan Harapan. 

“This is a specific statement. The prime minister is making a reference to a specific attempt by a particular personality in the royal family or household who brought it (Rome Statute) up,” Anwar said. 

“There was no reference to any party,” he told reporters in Rantau today on the by-election campaign trail. 

Anwar said he was clear on what Dr Mahathir meant as he had spoken to the prime minister about it. 

“I had discussions with him about it and he elaborated.”

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir had announced that Malaysia would not be signing the Rome Statute following the political and social confusion that arose after it was made known that the country would be a signatory.

He stressed that the withdrawal was not because signing it was detrimental to the state, but because confusion had been created by “one particular person who wants to be free to beat up people”. 

The prime minister did not name the person.

He said Malaysia, which acceded to the Rome Statute on March 4, could withdraw before June.

The decision to withdraw was made collectively at the cabinet meeting yesterday, the prime minister said. – April 6, 2019.

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Comments

  • Is it the person we all suspect?

    Posted 5 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • I fail to see how the rulers on their own could destabilise the democratically elected government. They are constitutional monarchs and have no rights to interfere in the actions of the government. On the contrary they must follow the directions of the elected government. If they are afraid that their actions may be so evil that the ICC would try them, then theres all the more reason to accede to the treaty. By remaining those rulers that disagree and wish to remain neutral should speak up to prevent a backlash against the rulers as an institution.

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • Mahathir is really wise. More people will now stand behind him.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply