M'sia celebrates court ruling, eyes other island claims

comments     M Jegathesan     Published     Updated

Malaysia today celebrated after being awarded a pair of islands with some of the world's best dive spots, ending a three-decade wrangle with Indonesia, and set its sights on other claims, including the Spratly Islands.

The World Court in The Hague ruled in favour of Malaysia yesterday, ending the dispute over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan, located in tropical waters off Borneo.

Both islands are said to be rich in natural resources, while Sipadan is a major tourist destination, known as one of Southeast Asia's best diving spots and once described by world-famous French diver and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau as "an untouched piece of art".

In its ruling the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejected claims by both countries that they had sovereignty over Ligitan and Sipadan based on treaties signed in the late 19th century by their respective colonial powers, Britain and the Netherlands.

Instead the world court said Kuala Lumpur had shown that it had asserted authority over the islands, notably in the 1930s with several environmental regulations, while Indonesia did not protest Malaysia's actions until 1969.

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