Malaysia withdraws from International Criminal Court

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Malaysia withdraws from International Criminal Court

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with nine hereditary rulers

Sunday April 7, 2019 5:39 PM, UNA-OIC

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday that Malaysia would withdraw from ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The decision was made following political confusion caused by groups with a vested interest to use the issue to drive a wedge between the country's elected government and its hereditary rulers, Mahathir told a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office.

"There seems to be a lot of confusion about the Rome Statute, so we will not accede. This is not because we are against it, but because of the political confusion about what it entails, caused by people with vested interests," he said.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah signed the Instrument of Accession to the Rome Statute of the ICC on March 4, prompting a backlash from Malaysia's main opposition party and vocal criticism from members of the country's royalty.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with nine hereditary rulers, who take turns in becoming the country's ceremonial head of state.

Mahathir's government decided against signing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in November last year, after facing similar opposition.

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