Malaysia is ready for the legal battle over a disputed islet with neighbouring Singapore and expects it to be resolved within three years, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said yesterday.

"We do not bring the case for the fun of it ... but in order to resolve an overlapping claim that would otherwise remain outstanding for a long time," Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

"This is a way of finding a solution through peaceful means, through the legal process," he said of the special agreement, due to be signed by Singapore and Malaysia, to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Syed Hamid and his Singaporean counterpart S Jayakumar are due to sign the agreement today.

Malaysia would maintain the services of some of the experts who played a role in the successful Sipadan-Ligitan case, which was heard by the ICJ last year, the Malaysian foreign minister said.

Malaysia won control of the two tiny resource-rich islands off Sabah when the ICJ ruled in its favour against Indonesia last December.

Syed Hamid said he expects the overlapping claims issue to be resolved in three years.

"I hope that within that three years, each will understand the position both parties (Malaysia and Singapore) have agreed in good faith to refer the matter to ICJ for the final resolution," Syed Hamid said.

Lighthouse

Referring to the lighthouse o­n Pulau Batu Puteh operated by Singapore, he said: "Since there is a contention of ownership and sovereignty, Malaysia has said that, yes, the management of the lighthouse has been given to them, but we have never given up ownership of that island."

"What is most important is that Malaysia has shown good faith, has shown that even though we consider that the island is ours, but there is a dispute between both countries, we have agreed for it to be referred to the ICJ.

"I think this is an act of unselfishness o­n our part. The island is very sensitive to us," he said.

Singapore said it has exercised sovereign rights o­n the islet since the 1840s when the British colonial government occupied it and constructed a lighthouse.

Malaysia maintains it has had sovereignty over the territory since the early 16th century.

The two sides have had a testy relationship since Singapore was expelled from the Malaysian Federation and gained independence in 1965. - AFP