Chief Secretary Zuki Ali said the RCI’s members would be made up of experts with extensive experience in the fields of justice, law, and public administration.

“The establishment of this RCI is in line with the Commission of Inquiry Act 1950, whereby the proposed membership of the RCI will be submitted for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s approval,” he said in a statement.

“The RCI members are expected to conduct the investigation transparently, fairly, and impartially to avoid any issues involving conflict of interest with the relevant parties.”

In 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 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.

Malaysia applied to the ICJ requesting an interpretation of the judgment in 2017.

In 2018, the Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led administration withdrew an application to overturn the ICJ ruling awarding legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Last year, a special task force set up to study the case found that Mahathir might have made a mistake in withdrawing the application.

At the time, then attorney-general Idrus Harun described the decision to withdraw the application as “not in order” and “improper”.

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