The prime minister and the Malaysian government are being hauled to court for the country’s 2018 withdrawal of an application to review the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) award of sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Malaysian citizen Mohd Hatta Sanuri filed the writ of summons at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on May 28, listing the prime minister, who is not named, and the Malaysian government as first and second defendants respectively.

At the time of filing in May, the premiership was held by Muhyiddin Yassin. However, last month, he stepped down...