THE Malay rulers could have been against the Rome Statute because of the advice they received, Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today.

He said whether or not the treaty that governed the International Criminal Court (ICC) would affect the Malay royalty depended on how one looked at it.

“It depends on the perspective and how you look at the issue.

“Perhaps the rulers have been advised that it could have the effect that is detrimental to their positions as heads of states or rulers,” the Gua Musang MP told reporters in Parliament lobby today.

Tengku Razaleigh, himself a descendant of Kelantan royalty, said the government’s backtracking on the issue was unimportant now.

“It doesn’t matter (whether the government has withdrawn or not) as the convention has been there for a considerable period of time. 

“And our government did not agree to ratify the convention last time although it was passed by the United Nations a long time ago. It’s only this new government that has decided to ratify it. 

“(For me) the government has decided to withdraw and I will go along with that,” said the 81-year-old.

His remarks came after reports that a group of academics had advised the Conference of Rulers that ratifying the Rome Statute would affect their positions as constitutional monarchs.

Prior to that, the Johor royal house had been vocal in opposing the treaty, saying it would harm the position of Malay rulers.

The academics’ presentation to the rulers was reportedly held on April 2, three days before Putrajaya announced its decision to withdraw its accession last Friday, with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad highlighting the role of an unnamed member of the royalty. – April 8, 2019.