Malaysian Team On Pulau Batu Puteh All Set For Final Round

From Nor Faridah A. Rashid

THE HAGUE, Nov 21 - Malaysia is all set for the final round of its oral arguments on the sovereignty dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge before the International Court of Justice here (ICJ) on Thursday and Friday.

Despite having to work until the wee hours of the morning, the Malaysian delegation is in high spirits and cheerful mood.

The Malaysian legal team will reply to submissions put up by Singapore on Monday and Tuesday during the republic's second round of oral pleadings.

Singapore's first round of oral submissions was heard over four days on Nov 6-9 while Malaysia presented the first round of oral submissions from Nov 13 to 16.

When Singapore closed its case on Tuesday, among other things, the republic argued that it had shown that in 1847, Pulau Batu Puteh was terra nullius (No Man's Land) and that from 1847 to 1851, Britain was in possession of the island without the consent of any native ruler.

Singapore's agent, Tommy Koh, said Malaysia had argued that it had given permission to Britain for the construction of the lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh.

However, he contended that Malaysia had not provided any evidence on such permission.

He claimed that Malaysia had only relied on indirect inferences from letters which did not even mention Pulau Batu Puteh.

Malaysia said that Pulau Batu Puteh was not terra nullius and that Johor had had the original title to the island and the two marine features since time immemorial.

It said that Singapore was merely the administrator of the lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh and activities that have taken place there were just acts required by a lighthouse administrator.

After Malaysia's final arguments, the court will adjourn the case before coming out with a decision, which is expected to be before June next year.

The Malaysian delegation is headed by Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, Ambassador at Large, who is also the Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs.

He is Malaysia's agent for the case while Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, the Malaysian 5Ambassador to the Netherlands, is the co-agent

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail is also representing Malaysia together with Malaysia's team of international lawyers, namely Sir Elihu Lauterpacht and James Crawford, both professors in International Law at the Cambridge University; Nicolaas Jan Schrijver, professor of Public International Law, Leiden University; Marcelo G. Kohen, professor of International Law, the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva; and Penelope Nevill, college lecturer, Downing College, Cambridge University - Bernama

Pasukan Malaysia Sudah Bersedia Hadapi Pusingan Akhir Penghujahan Di ICJ

Daripada Nor Faridah A. Rashid

THE HAGUE, 21 Nov - Pasukan Malaysia sudah bersedia untuk menghadapi pusingan akhir penghujahan secara lisan esok dan lusa dalam kes pertikaian dengan Singapura mengenai hak kedaulatan Pulau Pulau Batu Puteh, Terumbu Karang Tengah dan Terumbu Karang Selatin di Mahakmah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ).

Anggota pasukan itu tetap bersemangat tinggi dan sentiasa kelihatan riang walaupun terpaksa bersengkang mata hingga ke pagi sejak beberapa hari lepas bagi membuat persiapan untuk mematahkan hujah Singapura berhubung kes itu.

Pada pusingan akhir nanti, mereka akan menjawab dan mematahkan hujah lisan yang dikemukakan Singapura pada Isnin dan Selasa semasa pasukan republik itu membentangkan kes mereka bagi pusingan kedua.

Pusingan pertama pembentangan hujah secara lisan oleh Singapura berlangusng selama empat hari iaitu dari 6 hingga 9 Nov manakala pusingan pertama bagi Malaysia pula berlangsung dari 13 hingga 16 Nov.

Semasa menggulung hujahnya pada Selasa, republik itu berkata ia telah menunjukkan bahawa pada 1847, Pulau Batu Puteh adalah kawasan yang tidak dimiliki oleh sesiapa (terra nullius), dan bahawa dari 1847 hingga 1851, Britain mengambil pulau berkenaan tanpa keizinan daripada mana-mana pemerintah tempatan.

Ejen Singapura, Tommy Koh, berkata walaupun Malaysia menyatakan ia telah memberi kebenaraan kepada Britain untuk membina sebuah rumah api di Pulau Batu Puteh tetapi ia tidak mengemukakan bukti mengenainya.

Beliau berkata Malaysia hanya bergantung pada rujukan tidak langsung kepada surat-surat yang tidak sedikitpun menyebut Pulau Batu Puteh.

Malaysia bagaimanapun menegaskan bahawa Pulau Batu Puteh bukan terra nullius kerana Johor adalah pemegang hak milik asal ke atas pulau itu serta dua terumbu karang lain sejak zaman berzaman.

Malaysia juga berkata Singapura hanyalah pentadbir rumah api yang terdapat di Pulau Batu Puteh manakala semua kegiatan yang dilakukan oleh republik itu di sana tidak lebih daripada tindakan yang perlu dilakukan oleh mana-mana pengendali rumah api.

Setelah Malaysia selesai menggulung hujahnya, ICJ akan menangguhkan perbicaraan tuntutan bertindih ini, sebelum mengisytiharkan keputusannya, yang dijangka dibuat sebelum Jun tahun depan.

Pasukan Malaysia diketuai Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, Duta Tugas-tugas Khas, yang juga Penasihat Hal Ehwal Luar kepada Perdana Menteri.

Beliau juga bertindak sebagai ejen Malaysia bagi kes ini manakala Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, Duta Malaysia ke Belanda, adalah ejen bersama.

Malaysia turut diwakili Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail serta barisan peguam antarabangsa terdiri daripada Sir Elihu Lauterpacht dan James Crawford, profesor Undang-undang Antarabangsa di Cambridge University; Nicolaas Jan Schrijver, profesor Undang-undang Awam Antarabangsa di Leiden University; Marcelo G. Kohen, profesor Undang-undang Antarabangsa di Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva; dan Penelope Nevill, pensyarah di Downing College, Cambridge University - Bernama