Malaysia makes U-turn on ICC, decides not to join war crimes court
- Opposition politicians have been able to create confusion in the minds of the people, that this law negates the rights of the Malays, Mahathir said
The Southeast Asian nation announced in March it was joining the world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal after a reform-minded government came to power last year.
But the move sparked an outcry from opposition politicians and the powerful sultan of southern Johor state, who were furious the country’s royals would not be exempted from potential prosecution by the court.
Malaysia’s decision not to join the ICC is a severe blow to the tribunal in The Hague, which has been under pressure following high-profile acquittals, while Burundi became the first country to quit the court in 2017.
“(Opposition politicians) have been able to create confusion in the minds of the people, that this law negates the rights of the Malays and the rights of the rulers.”