Anwar said it was wrong for Mahathir to have done so and considered it a failure on the part of the former prime minister.

“Malaysia and Singapore never fought over this issue. The two nations only needed to discuss this as it involves the country’s sovereignty,” he said following a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong.

In 2008, the International Court of Justice decided that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia, and South Ledge to the state in the territorial waters in which it is located.

In June 2017, Malaysia applied to the ICJ requesting an interpretation of the judgment.

But a year later, Mahathir withdrew the application to overturn the ICJ’s ruling which awarded legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Three days ago, Attorney-General Idrus Harun said the decision by the government to withdraw its application was “not in order” and “improper”.

On Oct 9, then prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet had been told there was possible negligence and oversight on Mahathir’s part over the claim.

On Dec 14, Anwar said Malaysia would seek “meaningful negotiations” with Singapore on the Batu Puteh issue.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers is studying recommendations made by the special task force on the matter, including whether there has been any misfeasance in public office.

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