Ties Unaffected By Island Dispute, Says Syed Hamid

THE HAGUE, Nov 24 - The dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge will not undermine bilateral relations, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said here.

He said Malaysia was a mature nation which managed its diplomacy in accordance with consistent, principled and pragmatic international principles.

"This case is to decide on sovereignty. Bilateral relations will be unaffected," he told Malaysian reporters who covered the hearing before the International Court of Justice (IDJ), here. Syed Hamid was here for the court proceedings.

After sitting for 12 days, the ICJ adjourned the case. Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, the ICJ vice-president who headed the 16-member panel, said the court would now retire for deliberations.

He said the court would inform the agents of the two countries in due course when the judgment was to be delivered. The court did not set a date for delivery of the judgement but usually it would take about six months to do so.

The 16 judges included two ad hoc judges appointed by Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia appointed Christopher S.R. Dugard of South Africa and Singapore, Pemmaraju Sreenivasa Rao of India - Bernama

Hubungan Dua Hala Tidak Akan Terjejas

THE HAGUE, 24 Nov - Kes pertikaian antara Malaysia dan Singapura mengenai hak kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh, Terumbu Karang Tengah (Middle Rocks) dan Terumbu Karang Selatan (South Ledge) tidak akan menjejaskan hubungan dua hala antara kedua negara itu, kata Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Katanya Malaysia adalah sebuah negara yang matang dan menguruskan diplomasinya mengikut prinsip antarabangsa yang konsisten, berprinsip dan pragmatik.

"Kes ini hendak menentukan mengenai kedaulatan. Hubungan dua hala kita tidak akan terjejas," katanya kepada pemberita Malaysia yang membuat liputan kes tersebut di hadapan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) di sini.

Syed Hamid berada di sini untuk mengikuti prosiding mahkamah.

Selepas 12 hari bersidang, ICJ menangguhkan kes pertikaian antara Malaysia dan Singapura itu.

Hakim Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, naib presiden ICJ, yang mengetuai panel 16 anggota berkata prosiding mahkamah akan ditangguh untuk rumusan kes itu.

Beliau berkata mahkamah akan memaklumkan ejen daripada kedua-dua negara bila keputusan akan diberikan.

Panel 16 hakim itu termasuk dua hakim yang dilantik secara ad hoc oleh Malaysia dan Singapura. Malaysia melantik Christopher S.R. Dugard dari Afrika Selatan manakala Singapura, Pemmaraju Sreenivasa Rao dari India.

Mahkamah tidak menetapkan bila keputusan akan disampaikan tetapi secara amanya mahkamah pada kebiasaan akan mengambil masa kira-kira enam bulan untuk mengisytiharkan keputusannya - Bernama