Muhyiddin Asks The People To Accept ICJ's Decision

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 - International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin calls on the people to accept the split decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday which gave sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore.

He said although the decision was disappointing, it had to be accepted.

"I'm rather disappointed with the decision made by the ICJ on Pulau Batu Puteh which was not in favour of Malaysia.

"As a subject of Johor, I'm sad because whatever consideration applied by the ICJ under international law, in terms of the historical value, sovereignty and morality, we have lost part of our territory," he said here, shortly after the ICJ made the decision.

The ICJ which sat in The Hague, The Netherlands, voted 12-4 in favour of Singapore, stipulating that the neighbouring country had sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, while Malaysia was given sovereignty over Middle Rocks after a 15-1 vote.

The ICJ also decided that South Ledge belongs to the country in whose territorial waters it is located.

Based on the judgement, the ICJ decision on Pulau Batu Puteh referred to the letter written by an officer representing the Johor State Secretary in 1953 which the court considered as evidence that power and sovereignty over the island had been handed over to Singapore.

The judgement ended a 28-year-old dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over the island, which was called Pedra Blanca by Singapore, as well as the two corral reefs.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia's success in its claim over Middle Rocks was considered as "a slight boost to our disappointment".

"Hopefully, Singapore will not be arrogant over the latest decision on Pulau Batu Puteh," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Datuk Seri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan said the ICJ decision should have a positive impact on Malaysia-Singapore bilateral relations.

He said this was because it had resolved a dispute which had dragged on for a long time. "The issue is no longer an irritant in our relations. On the part of the people, they should accept it positively," he said when commenting on the decision.

Mohamad Jawhar said Malaysia had decided to accept whatever decision made by the ICJ, whether in favour of Malaysia or Singapore.

"The ICJ decision was made based on submissions made by both parties and much depended on the actions taken by both countries in the 19th, 20th centuries... these were all actions taken by the authorities during the colonial government, Malaya and so on," he said.

He hoped Malaysians would accept the decision responsibly and would respect the law.

"Don't be emotional and spread anti-Singapore sentiments which would not bring any benefit to Malaysia or to bilateral relations between the two countries," he said.

The decision did not mean that Malaysia lost everything because Malaysia too won in the claim over Middle Rocks and it was a win-win situation between Malaysia and Singapore.

Mohamad Jawhar said Malaysia had sent the strongest team with the best expertise to present its case at the ICJ.

The Malaysian team had been involved in the claims over Ligitan Island and Sipadan at the ICJ not long ago where the decision had been in Malaysia's favour.

He also hoped that Malaysia and Singapore could resolve the sovereignty over Southern Ledge amicably based on maritime law - Bernama

Usah salahkan sesiapa dengan keputusan ICJ

KUALA LUMPUR: Keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) kelmarin yang memberi hak kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh kepada Singapura, tidak harus dipolitikkan oleh mana-mana pihak.

Naib Presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, berkata semua pihak juga diminta tidak menyalahkan sesiapa atas keputusan itu dan menerimanya dengan hati terbuka walaupun ia mengecewakan.

"Saya tidak rasa kita menyalahkan sesiapa... ia sudah diputuskan mahkamah tetapi kita akan pastikan sebarang keputusan yang dilakukan negara jiran kelak tidak akan menggugat kepentingan rakyat kita terutama di Johor," katanya kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Taklimat Tertutup "Tata Etika Ahli Umno" dengan Badan Perhubungan Umno Wilayah Persekutuan, di sini, semalam.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri berkata, Singapura juga harus mengambil kira bahawa kawasan itu sudah sebati dengan rakyat negara ini terutama di Johor.

"Kita harap mereka mempertimbangkan dan tidak mengancam rakyat kita kerana ia pernah menjadi sebahagian wilayah Malaysia," katanya.



Ketua Pemuda Umno, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, berkata walaupun kecewa dengan keputusan ICJ itu, rakyat Johor khususnya, harus bertenang dan menerima hakikat keputusan itu muktamad dan tiada rayuan.

"Kita sudah pun bersetuju dengan keputusan muktamad mahkamah itu dan kita mahukan kestabilan serantau terutama di kawasan tanah selatan ini berkekalan.

"Saya harap Pemuda Umno Johor melihat secara positif pembentukan jawatankuasa dua negara mengenai isu ini tetapi pada masa sama saya mahu juga mereka memantau pelaksanaan kerjasama jawatankuasa yang ditubuhkan itu supaya ia dapat memberi kebaikan kepada semua pihak," katanya.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Pelajaran berjanji memantau secara dekat kaedah yang dilaksanakan jawatankuasa teknikal bersama Malaysia-Singapura untuk menangani isu perairan sekitar Pulau Batu Puteh dalam memastikan ia bukan saja menjaga hubungan kedua-dua negara tetapi kepentingan rakyat Johor terutama nelayan.

Selain itu, beliau berkata, jawatankuasa terbabit juga harus memberi perhatian khusus isu laluan kapal serta ruang udara yang selama ini membelenggu kedua-dua negara kerana ia belum mencapai keputusan di mahkamah - Berita Harian