Batu Puteh: World Court decision next Friday

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its judgment on May 23 on the ownership over Pulau Batu Puteh and the two marine features.

Both Malaysia and Singapore are claiming sovereignty over the disputed island and the two smaller marine features Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

The ICJ heard oral submissions from both the governments six month ago and is now ready to decide which country should have sovereignty over the disputed area.

The decision by ICJ, based at The Hague in the Netherlands, is set to end a 28-year-old territorial dispute over the island and the two features.

The court heard lengthy submissions from both countries from Nov 6 to 23 last year.

Both the governments subsequently agreed to abide by the decision of the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whose decision is final and not subject to appeal.

Both the Malaysian foreign minister Rais Yatim, and his Singapore counterpart, George Yeo, had said the outcome of the case would not strain ties between the two neighbours.

Size of a football field

Pulau Batu Puteh - or Pedra Branca as it is called by Singapore (White Rock in Portuguese) - is the size of a football field and lies 7.7 nautical miles from the Malaysian mainland. It is 25.5 nautical miles over the sea from Singapore.

The dispute was brought to the ICJ after the two countries signed a special agreement in February 2003 requesting the court to rule over the dispute which had started in February 1980 when Singapore protested against a Malaysian map of its boundaries published in 1979 which showed Pulau Batu Puteh as belonging to Malaysia.

During its oral submission, Singapore argued that it had conducted various activities at the island for over 150 years while Malaysia had not done so.

Malaysia however brushed aside Singapore's claim, stressing that Johor had the original title to the island and the two marine features since time immemorial.

It also said that Britain was merely given permission by the Johor Sultanate to build the Horsburgh lighthouse on the island between 1847 and 1851, adding that Singapore was merely the administrator of the lighthouse built.

The Malaysian government noted that the Singapore activities that have taken place there were just acts required of a lighthouse administrator, which were just operational and did not reflect any intention to acquire sovereignty over the island.