We still have reservations over Rome Statute, says Dr M

(FMT) – Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia still has its reservations against certain conditions under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mahathir said the government wants to ratify the treaty but wants the treaty to be subjected to Malaysia’s conditions.

”There are certain things they want to do under the Rome Statute which we cannot do here.

“We don’t want to accept funny things and we only want to accept the good ones,” he said after launching a palm oil event.

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar yesterday said the government would violate the Federal Constitution by signing the treaty, as the treaty would affect the monarch, Malay rights and the sanctity of Islam in the country.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the Cabinet had agreed to sign the Rome Statute after being satisfied that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s position and immunity would not be affected.

He said the concern of some that the Agong would be exposed to criminal prosecution in the ICC was a misconception and made without a basic understanding of the law or constitution.

Rome Statute is an international agreement that created the ICC, which serves to complement existing laws in a state to prosecute individuals who commit international crimes, as contained in Article 5 of the statute, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.

The government previously wanted to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), but faced a backlash from Malay groups.

The groups claimed ratifying the ICERD would undermine the special position of the Malays, and the government decided against ratifying it