ICJ to decide on Singapore, Malaysia territorial dispute next month

SINGAPORE, April 17 Kyodo

The United Nation's highest court is expected to release its judgment on a dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over the sovereignty of three islands that lie close to one of the world's busiest shipping lanes next month, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said Thursday.

Yeo expressed confidence both sides will accept the decision of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, expected sometime around mid-May, in good spirits and will not allow it to strain bilateral ties between them.

''It is likely that a judgment will be made in May, maybe mid-May or end of May and both of us have agreed that if Malaysia were to win, then we will congratulate Malaysia,'' and vice versa, Yeo said after meeting visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim. ''Whatever the decision, we will accept it and it will not affect bilateral relations.''

The dispute centers on an islet smaller than a football field known as Pedra Branca in Singapore and Pulau Batu Puteh in Malaysia, that sits on the eastern entrance to the Singapore Strait and off Malaysia's southern coast, and two even smaller rocky features known as Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

Yeo also said they have agreed that whatever the decision by the ICJ, the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca will continue to operate.

''The lighthouse will continue to provide a valuable facility to all navigators, so nothing should change. This is the common position that we take,'' he said after their meeting.

The two countries are each other's main trade partners but have bickered on issues ranging from airspace, water supply and railway land.

Singapore claims it has sovereignty over Pedra Branca as it succeeded the British colonial government that took possession of the island more than 160 years ago to build the lighthouse and other structures on it, and has continuously and openly conducted activities there, allegedly without any protest from Malaysia.

The dispute erupted in 1979 when Malaysia published a map incorporating the island as part of its territory, prompting Singapore to lodge a formal protest with Malaysia in early 1980.

The two countries took their dispute to the ICJ in 2003 and the case was heard in November last year.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning