BY Yang BerHormat Mr Chua Tian Chang aka Tian Chua, Batu (KL) Member of Parliament and also Parti KeAdilan Rakyat or the People’s Justice Party Information Chief.
Government declared that it is a win-win judgement for Pulau Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca.
How is it win-win? The ICJ ruled that the main island legitimately belonged to Singapore. Malaysia only given two pieces of coral rocks. Where is our “win”?
In fact we have ‘lost’ the islet long before the ICJ ruling:
First, Umno led Alliance Government requested Singapore to succeed from the Federation of Malaysia. We have given up a Pulau, now we are fighting over a Batu.
Secondly, the Government appointed AG Abdul Gani Patail as the leader of the defense lawyers in the Hague. What do you expect from Gani? There is no Lingam to run around to contact the judges.
Last week, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim briefed our MPs in the Parliament, and he was very confident that the judgement would be on our favour.
In my view, the aftermath of Batu Puteh is not yet over. Umno over the last few decades has been fanning xenophobic anti-Singapore sentiment among the public. It would be tough for Umno to answer.
In parliament today, in our debate on the Supplementary Supply Bil, Opposition Leader Wan Azizah again questioned the wisdom of buying Sorpene and Sukhoi.
The YB of Lipis defended the government of the spending. I objected to him philosophically.
As we have witnessed, expensive weapon is no guarantee for the defence of our territories. We invest more in software rather than hardware. We need need more expertise in history, social science, the art of diplomacy, and so on.
