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.

History will remain history. Today, Riau Islands and Singapore are not part of Malaysia. Mahathir’s contention that Malaysia should claim Singapore and Riau Islands is not appropriate as Malaysia is a nation that respects international law under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Charter. It does not matter whether or not such a statement was taken out of context as it may directly or indirectly affect friendly, close and cordial relations between Malaysia and both Singapore and Indonesia.

Similarly, Malaysians would not be happy either if Filipino leaders adamantly claimed that Sabah was part of the Philippines. As a political icon that is largely respected by many, Mahathir should not have made those contentious remarks in the first place.

Malaysia agreed to resolve Pedra Branca dispute with Singapore via the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during Mahathir’s administration more than 20 years ago. When Mahathir mentioned that Malaysia has “given up on Pedra Branca”, does this mean that the then-government under his leadership as the fourth prime minister did not work hard enough to win over Pedra Branca from Singapore?

Later, when Mahathir became the ninth prime minister four years ago, it was his administration that decided to withdraw the application to revise the decision made by the ICJ on Pedra Branca in 2008.

As the ten-year period expired back in 2018, the Statute of the ICJ has barred Malaysia to apply for any revision against the decision made in 2008. Therefore, Malaysians have to accept the fact that Pedra Branca now belongs to Singapore.

This is not the time to make unwarranted claims of sovereignty. This is the time to build the nation by preserving and taking care of the sanctity of its territory.

It is meaningless to make ambitious remarks to claim Singapore and the Riau Islands but at the same time the current administration has yet to fix proper maritime boundary delimitation between Malaysia and Singapore around Middle Rocks-Pedra Branca in the Strait of Singapore and Tuas in the western end of the Strait of Johor.

It is absurd to call for the government to claim territories belonging to other nations while Malaysia has yet to entirely secure its maritime territory in the South China Sea from undesired transgression.

It is ridiculous to potentially damage diplomatic relationship with Jakarta over such remarks while both nations are attempting to finalize proper Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary lines between Malaysia and Indonesia in the northern portion of the Strait of Malacca.

Mahathir may have made this contentious statement to motivate and gain support from the participants of the Congress.

Nevertheless, as an eminent politician, Mahathir needs to be wary of his words so as not to cause uneasiness particularly with Singapore and Indonesia. This issue has already gone viral in news portal and social media platforms within and beyond Southeast Asia as we speak.

Singapore and Indonesia are Malaysia’s immediate neighbors with decades of uninterrupted cordial diplomatic relations.

In addition, Malaysia is a nation that respects territorial integrity and sovereignty of other states as prescribed by the UN Charter.

Singapore and the Riau Islands do not belong to Malaysia.

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The writer is an associate professor at the Faculty of Syariah and law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and a research associate at the Australian National University Malaysia Institute, Canberra.