An upcoming ruling on jurisdiction over an islet contested by Singapore and Malaysia will not affect ties between the neighbours, the two countries said today.

Malaysia and Singapore asked the International Court of Justice in July 2003 to rule on who could claim the tiny island of Pulau Batu Puteh, also known as Pedra Branca, and its two rocky outcrops, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

Both countries presented their oral arguments in the case last year to the ICJ, the UN's highest judicial body in The Hague, and a ruling is expected next month, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said.

The issue of Pedra Branca, one of many to be resolved by the two nations, was among the subjects discussed during Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim's first working visit to Singapore today, the ministers told reporters.

Judgment likely next month

"We also talked about Pedra Branca because 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," Yeo said.

Rais also agreed to extend Malaysia's congratulations if Singapore emerges victorious, Yeo said.

"So nothing should change and this is the common position that we take and that we are happy to declare to all Malaysians and Singaporeans," Yeo said after a lunch meeting with Rais.

Rais was last month named to the new cabinet of Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after the country's ruling coalition suffered unprecedented election losses.

Rais replaced the long-time foreign minister, Syed Hamid Albar.

Bilateral ties have often been stormy since Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian Federation in 1965 over ethnic issues. They have undergone a marked improvement since Abdullah first took office in 2003.