Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff granted the application after hearing submissions today from senior federal counsels Shamsul Bolhassan and Ahmad Hanir Hambaly @ Arwi as well as lawyer Mohaji Selamat, representing Mohd Hatta Sanuri, who claimed he represents 32 million other Malaysians.
The government wanted the court documents to be sealed off from public access on the grounds that they are classified under the Official Secrets Act.
Hatta filed the suit last year, claiming he was affected by the government’s decision during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure to withdraw an application to review the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) award of sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore, which calls the island Pedra Branca.
He alleged that all Malaysians were affected by the government’s withdrawal of the review application, without having brought the matter to the Dewan Rakyat.
Hatta further said that the government has not provided an explanation for withdrawing the review application, in light of new evidence that favour Malaysia’s fresh bid.
He sought a court declaration for the government to pay RM10 million compensation to Malaysians over the withdrawal.
In 2008, the ICJ decided that Pulau Batu Puteh, or Pedra Branca, belonged to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia and South Ledge to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.
In June 2017, Malaysia applied to the ICJ to request for an interpretation of the judgment.
Last year, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had agreed to form a special task force to review the actions and legal issues regarding the three islands.
The task force is led by Apandi Ali. Other members in the task force are lawyers Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Abu Bakar As-Sidek Mohd Sidek as well as representatives from Wisma Putra, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Department of Survey and Mapping and the Johor state government.
The special task force will submit their findings and recommendations to the Cabinet within six months.