World Court should rule on disputed island - Singapore

SINGAPORE Dec 25 - The fate of a rocky island at the heart of a festering territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia should be decided by the World Court, the Singapore government said.

Malaysia, bolstered by its recent victory in a territorial claim against Indonesia, told Singapore on Tuesday to vacate the tiny islet, located strategically on the eastern entrance of the Singapore Strait, about 15 km (10 miles) off peninsular Malaysia's southern coast.

Singapore has said the island, which it calls Pedra Branca (White Rock), is in its territory and points to a lighthouse it operates on the rocky outcrop. Malaysia's New Straits Times reported this week that Singapore was building a two-storey building and helipad on the island, known in Malaysia as Pulau Batu Putih.

``Singapore has always maintained that Malaysia's claim to Pedra Branca should be resolved by reference to the International Court of Justice,'' the government said in a brief statement dated December 24 and received by Reuters on Wednesday.

The youth wing of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling coalition staged a noisy protest outside the Singapore High Commission on Tuesday, demanding that the city-state leave the island pending international arbitration.

The city-state's ownership was unchallenged until 1979, when Malaysia first contested it on the grounds that the southern Johor Sultanate exercised complete jurisdiction and sovereignty over the outcrop from 1513.

After two years of talks, senior officials from Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 agreed that the two countries would submit competing claims on the island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Singapore on Wednesday repeated that it was ready to sign and ratify that agreement to bring the dispute to the World Court.

Kuala Lumpur shifted attention to its Pedra Branca claims after last week's decision by the World Court in its favour over ownership of Sipadan and Ligitan islands off Borneo island. Indonesia and Malaysia had been wrangling for 30 years over the two islands, which lie in a world class diving spot.

Malaysia and Singapore, which split apart in 1965 after a brief union, are already locked in long-running disputes including water supplies, the use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean fighters and disagreements over Malaysian pensions held by Singapore - Reuters

Singapura pertahan Pulau Batu Putih miliknya

SINGAPURA 25 Dis. - Kerajaan Singapura berkata Pulau Batu Putih atau lebih dikenali di republik itu sebagai Pedra Branca adalah miliknya.

Dalam satu kenyataan ringkasnya yang diterima hari ini, kerajaan Singapura menegaskan bahawa rumah api yang dikendalikannya di bonjolan batu itu adalah salah satu bukti pulau tersebut merupakan miliknya.

Singapura menyatakan bahawa kedudukan pulau itu yang kini menjadi punca pertikaian hangat dengan Malaysia hendaklah diputuskan oleh Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ).

Malaysia menggesa Singapura supaya menghentikan sebarang aktiviti pembinaan di pulau tersebut sementara isu kedaulatan terhadapnya belum diputuskan.

Akhbar New Straits Times (NST) di Malaysia melaporkan bahawa Singapura membina sebuah bangunan tiga tingkat dan landasan helikopter di pulau itu.

``Singapura sentiasa berpendirian bahawa tuntutan Malaysia terhadap Pedra Branca hendaklah diselesaikan dengan merujuk kepada Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa,'' menurut kenyataan bertarikh 24 Disember dan diterima oleh Reuters hari ini.

Pemilikan Singapura terhadap pulau itu tidak dicabar sehingga 1979 apabila Malaysia mempertikaikannya atas sebab Kesultanan Johor memiliki kedaulatan dan bidang kuasa penuh terhadap pulau tersebut sejak 1513.

Selepas rundingan selama dua tahun, para pegawai kanan Malaysia dan Singapura pada 1998 bersetuju agar kedua-dua negara mengemukakan tuntutan masing-masing ke atas pulau itu kepada ICJ di The Hague.

Singapura hari ini mengulangi kesediaannya untuk menandatangani dan mengesahkan perjanjian bagi membawa pertikaian berkenaan ke ICJ. - Reuters