What did Mahathir claim he was actually trying to highlight?

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Mahathir Mohamad Clarifies Remarks on Territorial Claims

Former Prime Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stated that his recent comments regarding Johor reclaiming Singapore and the Riau islands were misrepresented and lacked context. He was not advocating for Malaysia to claim lost territories, but rather to highlight a perceived disproportionate focus on the loss of a small rock, Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), while overlooking larger territories that were previously taken from Malaysia. Mahathir suggested that the Johor government's denial of ownership of Pulau Batu Puteh was the primary error that led to the territorial dispute with Singapore.
Focus on Disproportionate Concern Over Territorial Loss

Mahathir Mohamad aimed to draw attention to what he described as an excessive concern over the loss of Pulau Batu Puteh, a small island, while neglecting the historical acquisition of larger areas of Malaysia. He posited that the act of losing territory itself was not significant, but rather the Johor government's subsequent denial of ownership of the rock was the critical mistake that precipitated the dispute. This denial, he indicated, was the direct cause for the matter escalating to international arbitration.
Gratitude for Awarded Territories and Uncontested Gains

He expressed a sense of gratitude that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan to Malaysia. Mahathir considered these islands to be of significantly greater value than Pulau Batu Puteh, which he characterised merely as a rock outcrop. Furthermore, he conveyed thankfulness that Indonesia has not challenged the ICJ's ruling concerning Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan, implying a recognition of Malaysia's rightful ownership.
Context of the Pulau Batu Puteh Dispute and Review Application

The controversy originated from a report by The Straits Times, which stated Mahathir had suggested Malaysia should claim Pedra Branca, Singapore, and the Riau islands, as they were once part of the country. The ICJ had ruled in 2008 that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, while Terumbu Karang Tengah was awarded to Malaysia. Subsequently, the Malaysian government under Mahathir filed an application to review the ICJ's decision in 2017, but this application was withdrawn by the Pakatan Harapan government before it could be heard in 2018.

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What did Mahathir claim he was actually trying to highlight?

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