In a post on X, he also questioned the “politicisation” of the RCI, saying it would not achieve anything more than a re-examination of why former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government had not pursued the review of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision on Batu Puteh.

“(The review) would be futile – a waste of time. No case was ever successful on review.

“But since the decision was made by Mahathir, those who hate him now have the opportunity to discredit him publicly by having this commission re-examine why the previous government did not pursue the review,” he said.

Mahathir had yesterday filed a judicial review application in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to disqualify former chief justice Raus Sharif from leading the RCI.

He also sought a mandamus order to compel the commission to conduct the inquiry in public, and for all ongoing proceedings to be suspended pending the disposal of his judicial review application.

Zaid said the ICJ’s decision on Batu Puteh was all but settled as the judges had acted based on a letter in 1953 from the Johor acting state secretary confirming that the state had no claim on the land.

He said the judges were also persuaded that the land was the property of the British crown and subsequently Singapore as its successor.

“Why can’t we accept the decision? Because of politics and, I suspect, some personal animosities involved.

“This commission can’t do more than (re-examine the previous government). It will not be able to get the ICJ to review the matter or return Batu Puteh to Johor.

“It will be an expensive affair with no tangible result to show,” Zaid said.