KUALA LUMPUR: Three former ministers from the 2018 Pakatan Harapan administration claimed today that the decision to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling on Batu Puteh case was made unilaterally by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad without consulting the Cabinet.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, and Anthony Loke, in a joint statement, claimed that Dr Mahathir communicated the decision in writing to the solicitor-general on May 21, 2018.
The three members of Parliament also claimed that the decision to withdraw the application on the morning of May 23, 2018 before the first Cabinet meeting took place.
"Two days later, after the decision had been made, Dr Mahathir only then informed the Cabinet.
"We wish to stress here that this was merely a 'pemakluman' under the agenda item 'Hal-hal lain' (other matters) and not a discussion to make a decision.
"As such, there is no issue of anyone objecting or supporting (the decision) as the avenue to make a decision had already been lost when it had been made in writing by Dr Mahathir."
Dr Wan Azizah was the deputy prime minister while Mohamad and Loke were the defence minister and transport minister respectively during the PH administration under Dr Mahathir's leadership in 2018.
The trio added that they were confident other Cabinet members present at the meeting on May 23, 2018, could verify the matter.
"As a statesman, we believe Dr Mahathir should take full responsibility for this decision rather than placing it on the shoulders of those who were not involved," the statement read.
Dr Mahathir on Tuesday denied that the decision to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the ICJ's ruling on Batu Puteh case was made unilaterally.
He said members of his Cabinet in the then-PH administration were present when the review was tabled for discussion, but none commented on or objected to the move.
He also suggested that some of the ministers present at the Cabinet meeting should be called as witnesses during the investigation.
Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was the housing and local government minister in the PH administration, confirmed the move to withdraw Malaysia's application to review the ICJ ruling was brought to the cabinet meeting.
Zuraida claimed that no ministers in the meeting raised any objection.