I don't have to tell people one by one - Dr M on 'STS' project in Johor
Dr Mahathir Mohamad brushed aside claims that the new ship-to-ship (STS) hub project in Johor was done in a secretive manner that even menteri besar Osman Sapian was left in the dark.
The prime minister pointed out that discussions regarding the project had been ongoing for a long time...
Dr Mahathir Mohamad brushed aside claims that the new ship-to-ship (STS) hub project in Johor was done in a secretive manner that even menteri besar Osman Sapian was left in the dark.
The prime minister pointed out that discussions regarding the project had been ongoing for a long time.
Mahathir, who said he was briefed on the project last year, added that even Singapore has been informed about this project and reassured that it would not encroach upon their waters.
"I think this is public knowledge. If people don't know, I don't have to go around telling people one by one, do you know about this, do you know about this, do you know about this.
“See, I don't do that," he told a press conference after the signing ceremony between the companies involved in the project in Putrajaya today.
Read more: Whoever claims Johor aware of STS project is lying, prince returns fire
Mahathir also expressed surprised when a reporter claimed that Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim was also clueless about the project.
“He (Tunku Ismail) is in Johor. Many Johoreans know about this, he doesn't (so) I am surprised. He knows about a lot of things, but this, he doesn’t know,” he said.
For the record, Tunku Ismail did not state that he was unaware of the project, but reproduced a Facebook posting by Gerakan Muafakat Johor.
The posting claimed the project benefited cronies of certain leaders and that Putrajaya failed to inform the Johor government of the new shipping hub.
Gerakan Muafakat Johor also accused Putrajaya of undermining the federation agreement, which allowed Johor to decide on matters concerning land and water and risked inciting secession.
It said the deal was hatched in a secretive manner.
As for the menteri besar, who yesterday said he had no knowledge about the project, Mahathir said he had since informed Osman (photo) regarding the matter.
Pressed on whether this project was discussed with the Johor state government, the prime minister sidestepped the question.
"I want to know whether the Johor government is going to reject this project because so far they have not rejected, not officially yet," he added.
On the allegation that the project would benefit the cronies of certain leaders, Mahathir, in his trademark style, claimed that all Malaysians were his cronies.
“Everybody in Malaysia is my crony because I work for everyone, including those in Johor,” he said.
The agreement was signed between KA Petra Sdn Bhd and Hong Kong's Hutchinson Port Holdings Ltd at the Le Meridien Hotel.
Apart from Mahathir, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution were also present.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Malaysiakini has amended this report after it was pointed out that Tunku Ismail did not state that he was unaware of the project. Mahathir had responded to a question which suggested that the prince did not know of the project.
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