In addition, Mahathir contended that Malaysia was contented to win control over Sipadan and Ligitan from Indonesia while giving up a piece of rock -- “Pedra Branca” -- to Singapore.

The former PM should have realized that although he is no longer the prime minister, he is still an influential politician and this speech of his would spark uneasiness among Malaysia’s nearest neighbors -- Singapore and Indonesia.

Although it is true that Singapore used to be part of the Johor Sultanate, it was the thenn-sultan of Johor, Sultan Hussein Shah, who ceded Singapore voluntarily to the British in 1824.

Ever since the cession, Singapore was administered by the British until it was briefly federated into the Federation of Malaysia and later removed in 1965 to form an independent republic.

Riau Islands on the other hand used to be part of the Johor Sultanate but this territory was never federated into Malaysia. Riau Islands were dissected from the Johor Sultanate in 1824 and ruled by the Dutch via the Riau-Lingga Sultanate until the Riau Islands gained independence as part of Indonesia in 1945.

Although the Johor Sultanate remains intact to this day, the Riau-Lingga Sultanate was disbanded by the Dutch in 1911.