FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to drop Malaysia's challenge over Batu Puteh unilaterally, said three of his former Cabinet members.
In a joint statement, former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, former defence minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and then transport minister Anthony Loke said Dr Mahathir decided on May 21, 2018 not to pursue the claim for Batu Puteh.
They said Dr Mahathir sent a written statement to the Solicitor General without referring to the Cabinet.
Mohamad is currently the Agriculture and Food Security Minister while Loke still holds the Transport portfolio.
"The decision not to proceed with the review and interpretation was made by Dr Mahathir himself in writing to the solicitor general, without referring to the Cabinet," they said.
Singapore was also informed on the morning of May 23, 2018, before a Cabinet meeting was held, and Dr Mahathir only informed the Cabinet in a meeting two days later after the decision was made, they said.
“Only after the decision was made did Dr Mahathir inform the cabinet during the cabinet meeting (later in the day on May 23).
“We stress that this was just a ‘notification’ (pemakluman) under the ‘other matters’ agenda, and not a discussion to come to a decision.
"We believe that Dr Mahathir should take full responsibility for the decision, rather than place it on the shoulders of people who were not involved.
"We are confident the (other) Cabinet ministers at the meeting on May 23 can (attest) to this," they added.
On Tuesday, Dr Mahathir again denied making a unilateral decision not to proceed with the applications to review and interpret the ICJ’s decision on Batu Puteh. - December 12, 2024
