PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says it is perplexing that the three former ministers during his second premiership did not raise objections when he informed of the decision not to pursue sovereignty rights over Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah and Tubir Selatan.
"Wouldn't they know that they can state their views or perspectives without me telling them to do so?
"Secondly, if my decision was wrong or they did not agree, why is it that no objection or views were raised after I informed them?
"Are they saying that informing them of the decision was a hindrance for them to raise objections, debate the issue or agree to it," said the former Prime Minister in a statement through his lawyer Rafique Rashid on Thursday (Dec 12).
Dr Mahathir was responding to the joint statement on Thursday (Dec 12) made by former ministers Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and Anthony Loke that Dr Mahathir 'informed' them during the first Cabinet meeting on May 23, 2018 after making the decision on May 21, 2018.
They said Dr Mahathir who was the then Prime Minister had conveyed the decision to the Singapore government through the Solicitor-General before the cabinet meeting on May 23, 2018.
"Don't they know any issues raised should have the attention of every Cabinet member and if there any views they should bring forth during the meeting," said Dr Mahathir in his statement.
"The question is do they know what collective responsibility is all about as a cabinet member?
"As far as I know all the three agreed to the decision after I put forward in detail my perspective on the issue.
Dr Mahathir said it was baffling that none of them had spoken of it since 2018, but avoided responsibility after he told of what transpired.
The nonagenarian has denied the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry which had said he was responsible for losing the sovereignty of Batu Puteh to Singapore, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called a treacherous act.
