Putrajaya denies Malaysia lost Pulau Batu Puteh due to Attorney General’s error

Putrajaya has denied allegations that Malaysia lost its claim on Pulau Batu Puteh because Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had shown a wrong photograph of the location of the island during proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In replying to points raised during the Budget 2014 debate at the committee stage today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri insisted that the AG's Chambers had done the historical and legal research including looking into the original title of the island to help the legal panel.
"The AG did not head the case and did not have the final say on the handling of the case. So the allegations that the AG had shown a wrong photograph as claimed by the opposition leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) is baseless and made without any verification," she said.
In 2008, the ICJ at the Hague, awarded the island off Johor to Singapore after a legal dispute.
Anwar later claimed that the country lost its case in the ICJ because Abdul Gani prepared a photograph which showed the wrong location of the island.
"He (Abdul Gani) was never questioned about this. I don't understand. Either there seemed to be an understanding or they are afraid to ask him to explain," he had said.
Nancy explained that on February 6, 2003, Malaysia and Singapore signed an agreement to refer the matter on the sovereignity of the island to the ICJ.
Written submissions were filed to the ICJ and oral submissions began in November 2007. In May 2008, the ICJ ruled that Pulau Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore.
Nancy also denied allegations that CIA agents were present in the AG's Chambers, telling sceptical MPs to visit the office if they are not satisfied.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that he had heard about two CIA agents operating out of the AG's office.
"I heard about this. But I have no evidence that there are two CIA agents working in the office. Maybe there are agents, maybe not. The AG has not confirmed any of this yet," Dr Mahathir said. - November 18, 2013.
--Malayinside