‘Nobody contested, no one argued’: Former minister Zuraida backs Dr Mahathir, says Cabinet discussed Pulau Batu Puteh withdrawal, no objections raised

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — A former minister in the 2018 Pakatan Harapan administration has confirmed that the decision to withdraw Malaysia’s application to review the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on Pulau Batu Puteh was presented in a Cabinet meeting that year.

Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, who served as the housing and local government minister at the time, said the issue was brought up by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the meeting.

“I only know that he presented it, explaining the situation. Nobody contested, no one argued, so we took it as agreed,” she told the New Straits Times.

Zuraida added, “We didn’t say anything because at that time we had just joined the Cabinet, and we were still settling in.”

However, she could not confirm whether the matter was discussed before or after the High Commission of Singapore was informed of Dr Mahathir’s intentions at 9am, as detailed in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge report released last Thursday.

In a previous report yesterday, Dr Mahathir rejected the claim, insisting the move was a collective decision by his Cabinet at the time.

He said the matter was tabled for discussion, and no objections or disagreements were raised during the meeting.

Dr Mahathir has accused the government of using him as a scapegoat following the RCI’s recommendation for a criminal investigation into his actions in the case.