Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the report would be reviewed by the Cabinet before a decision is made on the next course of action.

He added that the monitoring committee, which he chairs, took note of the interim report which was tabled by the STF yesterday and it also gave its input for consideration and improvement.

“So far, the STF has held 12 meetings, which also involved the sub-committees on legal aspects, tort of misfeasance, and Malaysia-Singapore relations,” he said in a statement today.

The STF was established by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob last October to review the laws on the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge and to propose the best options for the government over the case within a period of six months.

“The government is committed to this effort to ensure the sovereignty of the country which is a priority,” Wan Junaidi said.

The STF is chaired by former attorney-general Apandi Ali, with former Malaysian ambassador to The Hague Ahmad Nazri Yusof and lawyers Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Baljit Singh Sidhu, Abu Bakar As-Sidek Mohd Sidek, and Tengku Ahmad Fuad Tengku Ahmad Burhanuddin among its members.

The others are Johor government representative Ridha Abd Kadir, Umar Saifuddin Jaafar from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, survey and mapping department representative Hamdan Ab Aziz, and foreign ministry representative Shaharudin Onn.