Malaysia not giving up hope on Batu Puteh yet

By PAUL GABRIEL

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has renewed the search for evidence to stake its claim on Batu Puteh, whose sovereignty was deemed to be under Singapore by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said although the ruling by the ICJ at The Hague on May 23 was final and not subject to appeal, there was a specific provision in the court’s rules that allowed for a judicial review of a case within 10 years if new evidence was adduced.

As such, he said he had directed Wisma Putra to try again to trace the ancient letter written by British Governor William T. Butterworth to the Temenggong and Sultan of Johor seeking permission to build the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Batu Puteh.

During the hearing, Malaysia had contended that it was on the basis of the consent of the Temenggong and Johor Sultan via a reply dated Nov 25, 1844 (this letter was produced to the ICJ) that Great Britain built and then operated the lighthouse on the island.

“If we can gain sight of that letter, the gate can be opened again. There is a maximum 10-year period but preferably it should be done within six years.

”The letter could be in London, the British being too good at archiving. We have searched with them but it has not been conclusively proven that they don’t have it.

“Probably it is in Singapore. That would be a double jeopardy,” Dr Rais said in an interview.

It is learnt that the initial search for the letter covered 40 institutions in 11 countries – Britain, India, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the Netherlands, Portugal, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

In 1994, Malaysia requested Singapore to furnish a copy of the governor’s letter if it was in its possession but the republic did not respond.

Ambassador-at-large Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, who was Malaysia’s agent at the ICJ hearing, had told the court that if the letter still existed, it was likely to be in Singapore’s archives in the file named “Letters to Native Rulers” which Malaysia did not have access to.

Dr Rais explained that Malaysia could introduce a separate motion to the ICJ if the letter was found.

The ICJ awarded sovereignty of Batu Puteh to Singapore in a 12-4 decision, mainly on the basis that Malaysia had not done anything to invoke its rights on the island, which Singapore calls Pedra Branca, for over 100 years.

The ruling on Middle Rocks was 15-1 in Malaysia’s favour. On the other disputed territory of South Ledge, the ICJ ruled that it belonged to the country in whose territorial waters the outcrop was located.

The ICJ’s “split” decision brought to a close the 28-year-old territorial dispute between both countries. Singapore first laid claim to Batu Puteh through a diplomatic note protesting the inclusion of the island as part of Malaysia in a 1979 map.

Dr Rais, who heads the technical committee for Malaysia set up to determine the South Ledge issue, said Wisma Putra secretary-general Tan Sri Rastam Mohamed Isa had led a team of officials to the republic on Wednesday to get things going.

The minister said he agreed with views by law experts that the crucial thing for both countries to do now was to demarcate the waters in the area to avoid problems and confusion.

He said he would propose to Singapore that the waters off Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge be opened to fishermen from both countries and also Indonesia.

Rais wants all islands ‘noted’

THE Survey and Mapping Department has been directed to take note of the location of each island in Malaysian waters in the wake of the recent loss of Batu Puteh to Singapore.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the department had also been asked to determine if an island was inhabited and whether it was being viewed in an “administrative and legal manner” by any country.

“A technical committee has also been set up to go to the South Ledge area with Singaporean authorities.

“The committee will determine the area of territorial waters belonging to Malaysia. I will make an announcement when this is completed,” he said when replying to points raised during debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill.

He said there was also a need to expand the international law department in the ministry.

“At this moment, we have to depend on legal expertise on international law from Cambridge,” he said.

On May 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia but could not decide on the ownership of South Ledge.

Dr Rais said Malaysia had taken nearly 29 years to prepare for its claim on Batu Puteh before the ICJ.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers submitted various advice papers to Wisma Putra on our claim. Research was also conducted by archival experts.

“There were 55 officers involved in researching old maps and historical documents,” he said.

Dr Rais said one reason ICJ decided to award Batu Puteh to Singapore was because the maps of Malaysia of 1962, 1965, 1970 and 1975 had all shown the Horsburg lighthouse as belonging to the republic.

“When these maps were submitted as evidence, the A-G tried to argue that these were just maps but the ICJ accepted them,” he said, adding that Middle Rocks was awarded to Malaysia based on an “ancient title”.

On Pulau Pisang, off the coast of Pontian, Dr Rais said the ministry would study what kind of development it could carry out on the island and was negotiating with the Johor state government on this.

On the Philippines’ renewed “claims” on Sabah, he said the country’s foreign minister had told him the matter was merely a political tool for a small group of politicians - The Star

Ministry can help take over lighthouse on Pulau Pisang

By FLORENCE A. SAMY

PETALING JAYA: The Foreign Ministry will negotiate with all parties concerned if Johor is interested in developing Pulau Pisang, said Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

The Foreign Minister said there was no question that the history and ownership of the 154ha island was under Johor although the lighthouse was currently manned by four Singaporean guards.

Johor and the British government signed a treaty in 1900, which gave ownership of the island to Johor and allowed the British to build the lighthouse, which guides ships into Singaporean Straits.

“Pulau Pisang’s situation is different from Batu Puteh. Some Johoreans are angry that we have not taken over the lighthouse.

“There is a big possibility to do this but all this while, there has been no application asking for the lighthouse to be taken over by Malaysia.

“If we don’t ask, how to give?” said Dr Rais last night when appearing on RTM1’s talk show Bersemuka Dengan Media: Isu Semasa dan Polisi Negara.

The Star’s assistant news editor Paul Gabriel and New Straits Times’ foreign editor Kamarulzaman Mohd Salleh fielded questions to Dr Rais together with the host, Sabaruddin Ahmad Sabri.

Dr Rais said the agreement between Johor and British could be re-looked and a diplomatic note could be sent to Singapore to express Malaysia’s intentions over the lighthouse.

Over the last few days, politicians and the public had suggested that the Government take over the operation of the lighthouse to ensure the island did not suffer the same fate as Batu Puteh.

On May 23, the International Court of Justice awarded Batu Puteh to Singapore partly because it had consistently shown acts of sovereignty over the tiny island for more than 100 years compared to Malaysia which showed no action for over a century.

Malaysia, however, was awarded Middle Rocks while the ownership of South Ledge was undetermined.

“Our win on Middle Rocks is significant as something we have never touched for hundreds of years is now ours. We need to appreciate this,” he added.

Dr Rais said one must not react emotionally to the Batu Puteh decision without knowing the facts or knowledge of international laws.

“What will happen if all three went to Singapore? We didn’t win all or lose all. It is not right to say we didn’t win as Middle Rock is very strategic for future research and monitoring,” he said.

Dr Rais said Singapore had shown positive attitude towards the joint technical committee, which would look into matters of territorial waters and rights of fishermen when carrying out ICJ’s decision - The Star

Najib: It’s straight to hospital for sick NS trainees

KUALA LUMPUR: All national service camp commandants have to immediately send trainees to the nearest hospital the moment they show signs of being sick, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said this would enable the programme to strive towards minimal incidents of deaths, or “zero deaths” in NS camps.

“If there are sick trainees, they (camp commandants) must take action immediately and send them to the nearest hospital.

“Even if it’s found to be just a normal fever, it doesn’t matter. It’s better for them to do that than to have something regrettable happen later,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after a meeting with 80 NS camp commandants here yesterday.

Najib said that camp commandants “have to be more proactive and hands-on”.

“Parents place a very high responsibility on the Government to care for their children, which is why I stress that they (camp commandants) need to take their responsibilities very seriously. It’s more than just a normal job,” he said.

In Parliament last week, Najib said there have been 16 deaths since the NS programme started in 2004, with 11 trainees dying in camps and five during breaks.

On the search for other islands and marine features which could be eyed by neighbouring countries, Najib said necessary measures have to be taken to ensure Malaysia's sovereignty “will not be eroded”.

“We have to draw lessons from what has happened (with Batu Puteh). It is incumbent upon the departments concerned to take whatever measures to ensure Malaysia’s sovereignty will not be undermined,” he said.

On the ban on petrol stations from selling fuel to foreign-registered vehicles in border states, Najib the move should not hurt the tourism industry.

“Why should it hurt tourism? They have to buy petrol from their own country anyway.”

When asked how much this move would save the Government, he replied: “We can calculate the savings but most importantly it’s the question of principle.

“You’re talking about taxpayers money which is being used to subsidise those who are not entitled to receive the subsidy, and the level of subsidy is very high.”

When asked if new fuel prices would be announced on June 1, he replied: “We will have to wait for the Cabinet to decide." - The Star

Island lost because of weak team, says PAS

PAS has expressed dissatisfaction with the “weak” arguments of the Malaysian lawyers over the claim of Batu Puteh at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Its vice-president Nasharuddin Mat Isa said the weak arguments had resulted in Malaysia’s sovereignty of the island being taken over by Singapore.

“There was a lack of evidence to prop up our claims. Singapore, being awarded the island, will certainly bring a lot of hardship for our fishermen in Johor waters.

“We had a weak team of lawyers to fight our case,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

PAS, he added, would be explaining this issue to its members and rakyat all over the country.

Nasharuddin said PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub would attempt to table an emergency motion under 18(1) of the Parliament Standing Orders on the issue.

On another matter, Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan urged the Government to move into another island, where Singapore still maintains a lighthouse, and develop it.

This, he added was to avoid “banana trees from fruiting twice” as Singapore could move to stake a claim to Pulau Pisang, located some 5km from the coast of Pontian, Johor.

“Why should Singapore be allowed to keep the lighthouse there? Wisma Putra told me that under the present agreement, Singapore is allowed to maintain the lighthouse as long as it is still being used and for as long as there are stars and moon.

“But in this day and age, no ship uses a lighthouse and all of them now rely on global positioning system and radar to guide them. So what’s the use of the lighthouse?” he said - The Star

Ghani: Malaysia has proof of Pulau Pisang ownership

JOHOR BARU: There is no danger of losing Pulau Pisang to Singapore as Malaysia clearly has sovereignty over the island.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said that this was despite Singapore operating a lighthouse on the 154ha island.

He said the ownership of the island was based on a treaty between Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar and the British in 1900, which clearly stated that Malaysia had sovereignty over the island.

Malaysian territory: This August 1998 file picture shows former Pontian MP Datuk Dr Hasni Mohammad pointing at Pulau Pisang.

“Our land office records show that Pulau Pisang belongs to Johor,” he said.

Abdul Ghani was responding to a suggestion made by Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan that the Government should conduct a study on taking over the operation of the lighthouse.

Ahmad said Pulau Pisang might suffer a similar fate as Batu Puteh where the International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Singapore.

Abdul Ghani said the lighthouse, which guided ships into the Singapore Straits, was manned by four Singaporean guards.

“The guards are relieved by another team once a fortnight and are required to report to the marine department, Customs and immigration in Kukup every time they arrive and depart from the island,” he said.

He added that Malaysians were allowed to enter the island but were prohibited from entering the lighthouse.

Abdul Ghani said there were also 82 farmers who tend to orchards on the island.

“They are only given permission to work on the land but are not granted ownership of the land,” he said.

The island is about 12km from Pontian Kechil and 5km from Benut.

Meanwhile, Johor PAS officials lodged a police report against former foreign minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Abdul Ghani and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, accusing them of causing Malaysia to lose Batu Puteh.

Johor Baru (South) OCPD Asst Comm Zainuddin Yaakob confirmed that the report had been received.

Perak Puteri Umno chief Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin, meanwhile, said Malaysia must take the necessary steps to ensure she irrefutably owned all her islands and territories.

She said the steps were crucial in view of the recent decision on Batu Puteh.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the Malaysian Government was “foolhardy to have placed the case before ICJ” without the necessary evidence.

He was referring to Malaysian ambassador-at-large Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad’s statement that he could not locate a letter sent by a British governor in Butterworth to the Johor Temenggong seeking permission to build the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Batu Puteh.

Abdul Kadir led the Malaysian team to The Hague.

“Discovery of the letter now or in future cannot restore Malaysia’s sovereignty over Batu Puteh,” he said - The Star

Apathy made us lose Pulau Batu Puteh

AS mature nations Malaysia and Singapore have earned the respect of the international community for accepting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on Singapore’s claim to Pulau Batu Puteh made on May 23. The decision was accepted in good faith with no untoward incident by citizens of both countries.

Nevertheless, for Malaysia it is a lesson well learnt that should not be repeated. Due to carelessness, apathy and goodwill Malaysia inadvertently handed Pulau Batu Puteh on a silver platter to Singapore.

My short stint at our country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs handling the Singapore desk has given me an insight into the psychological psyche of how Singapore operates or rather tick with precision as follows:

• The siege mentality strengthens their will for survival. Being an island republic, they have to expand physically outward and upward. Any unoccupied landmass, island or coral reef provides an opportunity for expansion.



• Their will to survive have made their leaders very focussed in projecting and planning for the future. Their diplomats are handpicked and well trained in the art of diplomacy and they don’t take bilateral relations for granted.

I once had an outing with Singapore diplomats at the Press Club. Over drinks they casually brought up the topic of Pulau Batu Puteh. I remembered vividly the conversation:

“What’s the situation on Pedra Branca?” asked my Singapore counterparts. I responded humorously “Are you referring to the Portuguese lady?” And all of us had a good laugh.

The moral of the story is that Singapore diplomats are well trained to gather information at all occasions. To them any outing is business and has great implication to Singapore’s survival.

I hope the ICJ decision has opened the eyes of Malaysian leaders and officials in not taking the country’s sovereignty for granted. Being nice, accommodating and tidak apa has its limits.

I sympathise with the fishermen of Tenggarang, Johor who have now forever lost their traditional resting place at Pulau Batu Puteh.

HASSAN TALIB,
Gombak, Selangor.

Ambil iktibar keputusan kes Batu Puteh: TPM

Oleh Magendran Rajagopal dan Srihanasham Noordin

KUALA LUMPUR: Semua agensi kerajaan perlu menjadikan keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) memberi Singapura hak kedaulatan ke atas Batu Puteh minggu lalu sebagai pengajaran dan memastikan Malaysia tidak lagi kehilangan mana-mana kawasan miliknya pada masa depan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata pihak bertanggungjawab harus mengambil iktibar daripada kehilangan Batu Puteh dan bertindak proaktif bagi memastikan kedaulatan negara tidak lagi terhakis dengan apa cara sekalipun pada masa depan.

"Apa yang berlaku di Batu Puteh adalah kerana kealpaan dan apa yang tidak kita lakukan bagi mempertahankannya selama ini.

"Kini menjadi tanggungjawab semua agensi kerajaan memastikan kejadian seumpama ini tidak berulang dan kedaulatan kita tidak dicabar," katanya dalam sidang media selepas mengadakan perjumpaan dengan kem komandan Pusat Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN), di sini semalam.

Penghakiman ICJ Jumaat lalu memberikan Singapura hak kedaulatan terhadap Batu Puteh dan Malaysia sebagai pemilik Batuan Tengah manakala kedudukan terumbu karang ketiga yang dikenali Tubir Selatan tidak ditentukan oleh ICJ.

Sehubungan itu, orang ramai yang menyuarakan kebimbangan akan ada pulau lain yang selama ini dianggap milik negara akan menerima nasib sama seperti Batu Puteh, umpamanya Pulau Pisang dan Pulau Merambong di Johor.

Penyelidik kanan Institut Maritim Malaysia (MIMA), Kapten Rakish Suppiah, berkata negara mungkin kehilangan kira-kira 100 pulau, batuan serta struktur-struktur maritim yang lain jika tiada tindakan diambil untuk mengesahkan kedaulatannya.

"Kita perlu sentiasa memantau dan melakukan rondaan di kawasan ini bagi memastikan tiada negara lain cuba mendirikan apa-apa struktur atau menjalankan sebarang kegiatan dan menjadikannya asas untuk menuntut hak di masa depan," katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Setakat ini, negara mempunyai lima pulau dengan keluasan melebihi 200 kilometer (km) persegi, 68 pulau di bawah 200 km persegi yang mempunyai penempatan manusia, empat pulau yang ditakrif taman laut atau kawasan perlindungan marin.

Selain itu, ratusan lagi terumbu karang atau pulau kecil yang tidak berpenghuni belum ditentukan milik siapa kerana sempadan perairan tidak jelas atau terletak dalam kawasan perairan antarabangsa - Berita Harian

Bumburing: Act fast to solve illegal immigrant issue

THE GOVERNMENT must quickly solve the problem of illegal Filipino immigrants in Sabah especially in the light of a challenge made by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to contest the ownership of Sabah in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Datuk Wilfred Bumburing (BN-Tuaran), said with so much focus on the Batu Puteh case in the ICJ, it would be wise for the Government to be seen to be doing something about the problem in Sabah.

“If we are not careful, we will lose a much bigger piece of land than Batu Puteh or the Middle Rocks,” he said when responding to Ibrahim Ali’s (Ind-Pasir Mas) comments about the ICJ’s recent decision when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill.

“Sabah MPs have raised this problem time and again and the Government must take note of the immigrant issue,” he said, adding that the Philippine’s claim to Sabah is still there.

Bumburing said that Malaysia was still paying the Sultan of Sulu a certain amount of money every year.

Outside the Dewan, Bumburing said some of the immigrants have become entrenched in Sabah, adding that the number of Filipinos in Sabah was unknown.

“This is why we need a Royal Commission of Inquiry,” he said.

Reports in Philippine online news portals quoted Moro leader Nur Misuari as saying on Saturday that the amount of money (about RM5,000) paid by Sabah to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu was “pittance”.

Misuari said the Sabah issue should be brought to the ICJ for resolution - The Star

Keputusan ICJ kurang jelas: MIMA

Oleh Magendran Rajagopal

Sempadan kawasan perairan perlu dilakar semula, ambil kira pertindihan sempadan

KUALA LUMPUR: Keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) memberikan hak Batu Puteh kepada Singapura turut merangkumi hak meneroka hasil galian dan sumber mineral asli dalam perairan republik itu.

Ketua Pengarah Institut Maritim Malaysia (MIMA), Datuk Cheah Kong Wai, berkata Undang-Undang Laut menetapkan sempadan perairan membabitkan kawasan sehingga 12 batu nautika atau 22.2 kilometer dari pesisiran pantai atau mana-mana bidang hartanah milik sesebuah negara.

"Berdasarkan perundangan itu, saya secara peribadi amat kecewa dengan keputusan ICJ yang jelas memihak kepada Singapura kerana Malaysia kini seolah-olah tidak mempunyai kedaulatan di perairan berkenaan.

"Keputusan ini seharusnya memberikan penjelasan terperinci mengenai maksud penghakiman itu dari segi hak, kuasa dan sempadan perairan membabitkan kedua-dua negara serta kesannya terhadap pihak yang berkepentingan seperti nelayan selain pengendali pelabuhan.

"Namun, saya menganggap penghakiman memihak kepada Malaysia berhubung kedaulatan Batuan Tengah sebagai keputusan yang saksama kepada kedua-dua pihak," katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Cheah berkata Tubir Selatan terletak berhampiran Batuan Tengah milik Malaysia dan Batu Puteh milik Singapura, sekali gus mewujudkan pertindihan tuntutan sempadan perairan.

Sehubungan itu, sempadan kawasan perairan perlu dilakar semula dengan mengambil kira pertindihan sempadan.

Pada masa sama, beliau berkata Batu Puteh serta Batuan Tengah turut menghadapi dilema kerana kedudukannya yang berdekatan dan memerlukan sempadan sedia ada dilakar semula dengan memperincikan benteng sempadan masing-masing.

Beliau menganggap keputusan ICJ agak kabur dalam isu terbabit kerana Tubir Selatan hanya kelihatan ketika air surut dan sewajarnya tidak dianggap sebagai sekeping tanah.

Rabu lalu, ejen Singapura, Prof Tommy Koh dipetik sebagai berkata republik itu akan menekankan kebebasan dan keselamatan laluan kapal menjadi kepentingan utama republik itu.

Pada masa sekarang, selain memiliki dan mengendalikan Rumah Api Horsburgh, Singapura memasang Sistem Maklumat Trafik Perkapalan (VTIS) pada menara di Batu Puteh yang menjadi elemen penting bagi menguruskan laluan kapal di perairan berkenaan.

Di bawah Konvensyen Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu mengenai Undang-Undang Laut (UNCLOS) yang diiktiraf dan diterima pakai Singapura serta Malaysia, sesebuah negara boleh menuntut hak sempadan sehingga 12 batu nautika daripada pesisiran pantai masing-masing.

Dalam sempadan perairan sendiri, sesebuah negara bebas menentukan undang-undang menetapkan penggunaan dan meneroka atau melombong apa-apa sumber asli.

Bagaimanapun, dari segi trafik perairan pula, kapal bebas menggunakan laluan terbabit dengan percuma tanpa berhenti di mana-mana atau melakukan sebarang tindakan yang boleh menggugat kedaulatan dan keselamatan negara yang berkuasa di perairan berkenaan.

Namun, UNCLOS tidak memberi penakrifan mengenai hak nelayan bagi menggunakan atau memasuki sempadan perairan negara lain, terutama di sekitar Batu Puteh dan Batuan Tengah.

Berikutan itu, Malaysia dan Singapura masih perlu berunding mengenai isu sempadan, tidak kira apa penghakiman ICJ, kerana kedudukan kedua-dua negara yang begitu hampir menyebabkan banyak pertindihan sempadan - Berita Harian

Diplomat aka spy Singapura peka cari maklumat

MALAYSIA dan Singapura mendapat pujian daripada masyarakat antarabangsa kerana menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) mengenai isu tuntutan bertindih Batu Puteh pada 23 Mei 2008.

Tiada kejadian yang tidak diingini berlaku di antara rakyat kedua-dua negara.

Namun, kita berasa kecewa dan kesal ICJ memutuskan Batu Puteh adalah hak Singapura. Sikap 'tidak apa' dan berbaik hati negara diambil kesempatan Singapura untuk memiliki Batu Puteh.

Pengalaman saya yang singkat di Kementerian Luar berurusan dengan Singapura menunjukkan bahawa kita tidak boleh terlalu berlembut dengan negara jiran itu. Hal ini kerana:

• Wujud mentaliti kepungan - mereka hidup dalam keadaan tertekan di kelilingi negara Melayu.



• Sebagai republik pulau, mereka akan sentiasa mencari kawasan, pulau dan terumbu yang tiada penghuni untuk disewa atau dimiliki.



• Pemimpin mereka tegas dan berpandangan jauh menentukan 'survival' negara.



• Diplomat yang bertugas adalah terbaik dan terlatih.



• Tidak teragak-agak menggunakan kekerasan.

Saya masih ingat bagaimana pada satu majlis beberapa diplomat Singapura secara bersahaja bertanya: "Bagaimana kedudukan Pedra Branca? Lantas saya menjawab secara berseloroh: "...maksud kamu Pedra Branca itu ialah wanita Portugis ke? Dan kami semua ketawa.

Moral cerita ini menunjukkan diplomat Singapura tidak membuang masa dalam apa keadaan pun. Mereka dilatih untuk mencari maklumat demi kepentingan negara mereka.

Semoga peristiwa ini membuka mata kepada pemimpin kita dan agensi kerajaan yang berkenaan agar lebih peka dan serius dalam menjaga kedaulatan dan maruah negara dalam hubungan dengan negara jiran, khususnya Singapura.

HASSAN TALIB,
Gombak, Selangor.

Wisma Putra kena sedia terima penyelidik

SELEPAS Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) membuat keputusan mengenai status Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca yang menjadi rebutan Malaysia-Singapura sejak 29 tahun lalu, kita harus memandang ke hadapan untuk melihat isu Pulau Pisang dan Kepulauan Spratly pula.

Selain Batu Puteh menjadi hak Singapura, ICJ Jumaat lalu juga memutuskan Middle Rock (Batuan Tengah) diberikan kedaulatan kepada Malaysia, manakala status South Ledge belum diputuskan.

Keputusan berkait isu Batu Puteh ini yang memihak kepada Singapura memberikan banyak iktibar kepada Malaysia, terutama apabila memperkatakan mengenai soal kedaulatan.

Keadaan ini dilihat lebih kritikal kerana Malaysia mempunyai sempadan daratan dan maritim dengan beberapa negara lain yang dilihat mampu membawa kepada masalah jika tidak diselesaikan dengan berhemah dan memerlukan tindakan segera.

Kejayaan Malaysia mendapatkan Pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan beberapa tahun lalu seolah-olah menjadikan kita leka dengan isu yang bersabit dengan pertindihan wilayah yang menghantui negara kita selama ini.

Malah, selepas mendapatkan kedua-dua pulau itu, negara dikejutkan lagi dengan isu pertindihan wilayah yang berlaku di Ambalat antara Malaysia dan Indonesia sekitar 2005.

Di samping itu, kita juga tidak seharusnya terlepas pandang dengan isu pertindihan wilayah yang masih berlaku sehingga hari ini.

Malah, dalam beberapa keadaan didapati bahawa isu ini jika tidak ditangani segera akan memberikan kerugian besar kepada negara, lebih-lebih lagi apabila memperkatakan soal kedaulatan, keuntungan ekonomi terutama sumber dan sebagainya.

Satu daripada isu utama pertindihan wilayah ini yang sudah berlarutan adalah isu di Kepulauan Spratly yang membabitkan beberapa negara lain termasuk China, Vietnam dan Filipina.

Di samping itu, isu berkait Pulau Pisang turut perlu diketengahkan kerana jika silap percaturan dan tidak ada sebarang langkah awal diambil, ia juga mungkin boleh jatuh kepada Singapura.

Bukan setakat itu saja, malah banyak lagi isu yang perlu dilihat dengan serius oleh kerajaan berkaitan dengan pertindihan wilayah ini, misalnya isu Limbang yang turut dituntut kerajaan Brunei Darussalam.

Beberapa pendekatan perlu diambil kerajaan. Antaranya usaha mengumpulkan semua maklumat berkait dengan pulau atau wilayah yang dilihat 'bermasalah' ini. Penumpuan harus difokuskan kepada data dan sumber, sama ada yang berada di Malaysia atau di luar negara, terutama di London, Belanda dan India.

Bukan setakat itu, beberapa kajian perlu dibuat penyelidik, ahli akademik dan pelajar di negara ini perlu diberikan perhatian segera. Hal ini kerana tesis yang dikaji dan ditulis mengenai pulau dan wilayah ini boleh diperoleh di perpustakaan di negara ini .

Di samping itu, Wisma Putra patut mengubah sikap terhadap ahli akademik, penyelidik dan pelajar yang seolah-olah dilihat sebagai cabaran selama ini.

Hal ini cukup bertentangan dengan kaedah yang dilaksanakan White House di Amerika Syarikat yang memberikan layanan kepada ahli akademik, khususnya dalam bidang hubungan antarabangsa dan bidang berkaitan dalam menasihati pemimpin Amerika Syarikat berhubung sebarang isu antarabangsa, apatah lagi yang ada kaitan dengan kepentingan nasional.

Sebaliknya sikap Wisma Putra misalnya yang tidak memberikan kerjasama penuh jika ada ahli akademik, penyelidik atau pelajar yang mahu membuat kajian mengenai isu seperti ini atau sebarang isu yang berkait dengan dasar luar.

Hal ini sudah tentu sangat dikesali kerana Wisma Putra patut memberikan galakan kepada mereka untuk membuat kajian mengenai dasar luar Malaysia kerana dengan adanya kajian yang dilakukan akan membolehkan input mengenai sesuatu isu yang diperlukan terutama yang berkaitan dengan kepentingan nasional kita.

WAN SHAWALUDDIN WAN HASSAN dan RAMLI DOLLAH,
Jabatan Hubungan Antarabangsa, UMS, Kota Kinabalu.

Jauhi sementara Batuan Tengah

PUTRAJAYA 25 Mei - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menasihatkan nelayan-nelayan di Johor supaya tidak menjalankan sebarang aktiviti tangkapan ikan di perairan Batuan Tengah (Middle Rocks) dalam tempoh dua minggu ini.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata, mereka perlu menunggu keputusan yang bakal dicapai dalam mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Teknikal Malaysia-Singapura bagi memperincikan kawasan perairan antara Batu Putih dengan Batuan Tengah serta Tubir Selatan (South Ledge).

Beliau berkata, semua pihak perlu menunggu keputusan jawatankuasa kerana ia amat penting bagi mengelakkan keraguan antara Kerajaan Malaysia dan Singapura.

"Langkah yang terbaik, tunggu Jawatankuasa Teknikal memberikan cadangan dan kita akan mengumumkannya nanti. Proses ini tidak akan mengambil masa panjang.

"Menurut Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim (Menteri Luar) ia mengambil masa dalam dua minggu, bila sudah siap Wisma Putra akan buat pengumuman pertengahan Jun nanti," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Terdahulu beliau merasmikan majlis sambutan Bulan Perpaduan Peringkat Kebangsaan anjuran Kementerian Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) di sini.

Sehubungan itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri meminta para nelayan supaya menunggu sehingga pengumuman rasmi dikeluarkan oleh pihak kerajaan.

ICJ dalam keputusannya kelmarin, menetapkan kedudukan Tubir Selatan ditentukan menerusi rundingan antara Malaysia dan Singapura bagi menentukan perairan negara mana ia terletak.

Sejak 1986 selepas timbulnya pertikaian ke atas Batu Putih, Singapura telah menghantar kapal tentera lautnya ke situ dan menjalankan rondaan tetap 24 jam di perairan ketiga-tiga bentuk maritim tersebut.

Situasi itu telah mencetuskan ketegangan dan bahaya apabila nelayan-nelayan Johor telah dihalau oleh pasukan peronda laut Singapura daripada perairan tradisional serta tempat pelindungan mereka di sekitar Batu Putih.

Kapal peronda Malaysia serta para pegawai-pegawainya juga tidak boleh mendekati bukan sahaja Batu Putih malah Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan kerana dihalang oleh kapal peronda Singapura.

Semalam, Ejen Bersama, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin dipetik sebagai berkata, nelayan-nelayan di Johor terutamanya kawasan Pengerang yang dihalang selama 22 tahun daripada mendekati perairan Batuan Tengah, kini bebas menangkap ikan di kawasan terbabit berikutan keputusan ICJ mengekalkan kedaulatan bentuk maritim itu kepada Malaysia.

Menurutnya, Singapura yang sebelum ini bertindak mengawal perairan di Batu Putih, Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan sejak tahun 1986, tidak lagi mempunyai kebebasan untuk berbuat demikian kerana bidang kuasa mereka kini terhad kepada Batu Putih semata-mata - Utusan Malaysia

Nelayan boleh ke Batuan Tengah mulai Jun: Najib

Oleh Azrina Ahzan dan Johan Afandi

PUTRAJAYA: Nelayan tempatan dijangka boleh mula menangkap ikan di perairan Batuan Tengah yang dipercayai kaya dengan hasil maritim, selepas Jawatankuasa Teknikal Malaysia-Singapura mengeluarkan garis panduan rasmi mengenai kegiatan itu, pertengahan bulan depan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata perkara itu penting untuk mengelak timbul masalah dengan Singapura jika nelayan tempatan menangkap ikan di perairan itu selepas ia disahkan menjadi milik Malaysia oleh Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) Jumaat lalu.

Katanya, walaupun ICJ sudah mengesahkan perairan Batuan Tengah adalah milik Malaysia, nelayan tempatan dinasihatkan menunggu keputusan dan cadangan jawatankuasa teknikal itu bagi mengelak timbul sebarang salah faham.

"Ia tidak akan mengambil masa lama kerana saya difahamkan mereka memerlukan hanya dua minggu lagi dan Kementerian Luar dijangka membuat pengumuman mengenainya pertengahan bulan depan," katanya selepas melancarkan majlis sambutan Bulan Perpaduan Peringkat Kebangsaan 2008, di sini, semalam.

Najib mengulas kenyataan beberapa pihak berhubung keputusan ICJ menyerahkan hak kedaulatan Batuan Tengah kepada Malaysia, sekali gus membolehkan nelayan Malaysia menangkap ikan di perairan itu tanpa bimbang diganggu pihak berkuasa Singapura.

Ejen Bersama Malaysia dalam isu tuntutan Batu Puteh, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, berkata kini tidak timbul halangan untuk rakyat Malaysia pergi ke kawasan perairan Batuan Tengah yang tidak sampai satu kilometer dari Batu Puteh untuk mencari rezeki atau membuat penyelidikan.

Noor Farida yang juga bekas Duta Malaysia ke Belanda berkata, kapal Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) serta agensi penguat kuasa maritim lain juga boleh meronda di perairan berkenaan yang dipercayai kaya dengan khazanah laut.

Sementara itu, Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, berkata kerajaan belum bercadang menghantar agensi penguat kuasa mengawasi perairan Batuan Tengah walaupun ia sudah sah milik negara kerana tidak mahu disifatkan cuba bertindak agresif di kawasan berkenaan.

Kementerian itu berpendapat adalah lebih baik untuk kerajaan kedua-dua negara menunggu keputusan jawatankuasa teknikal bagi menyelesaikan perkara berbangkit seperti sempadan maritim Malaysia dan Singapura di perairan itu.

"Tidak elok untuk kita menimbulkan sebarang tindakan yang boleh disifatkan agresif dengan menghantar kapal agensi penguat kuasa meronda walaupun jelas Batuan Tengah milik kita kerana Malaysia serta Singapura perlu bekerjasama," katanya di Kota Tinggi, semalam.

Syed Hamid berkata, rakyat tempatan terutama nelayan dinasihatkan menunggu garis panduan jawatankuasa teknikal mengenai isu itu sebelum pergi ke sana walaupun ICJ sudah memutuskan Malaysia berhak ke atas Batuan Tengah.

"Jawatankuasa berkenaan perlu berbincang dan menterjemahkan keputusan ICJ itu dengan mendalam bagi mengelak sebarang perselisihan faham dan tiada keputusan unilateral boleh diambil kedua-dua negara tanpa perbincangan.

"Adalah lebih baik jawatankuasa berkenaan memulakan perbincangan untuk memastikan keselamatan maritim di kawasan Batuan Tengah dan Batu Puteh dengan mengambil kira konsep 'Eye in the Sky', yang digunakan bagi mengawasi Selat Melaka," katanya.

Beliau berkata, walaupun Batuan Tengah dan Batu Puteh berkait rapat dengan keselamatan dua negara di perairan berkenaan, faktor jarak yang terlalu hampir antara kedua-duanya menyebabkan kerajaan Malaysia dan Singapura tidak boleh bertindak sendirian.

Selain itu, kedua-dua negara juga perlu menyelesaikan segera isu berhubung kedudukan Tubir Selatan kerana terumbu itu akan tenggelam apabila air pasang dan hanya kelihatan ketika air surut.

"Singapura mahu ketiga-tiga kawasan itu tetapi ICJ menolaknya. Kesannya, Singapura kini tidak lagi sendirian di perairan itu selepas hampir tiga dekad tidak membenarkan Malaysia menghampirinya kerana kita juga sudah diberikan hak berkenaan," katanya.

Sementara itu, polis marin meminta nelayan Malaysia supaya tidak mengunjungi perairan Batuan Tengah sehingga keputusan rasmi mengenainya diumumkan kerajaan, bagi mengelakkan salah faham dengan pihak berkuasa Singapura - Berita Harian

Call for joint maritime patrols

JOHOR BARU: Maritime patrols around Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks should be conducted jointly with Singapore as the two features were close to each other, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said.

Details of the security arrangement will be worked out by the technical committee set up to study the implications of the International Court of Justice's decision, which ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore while Malaysia had sovereignty over Middle Rocks.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia would not adopt an aggressive posture by cordoning off the area around Middle Rocks.

"Though Singapore got Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks belongs to us and our fishermen and vessels should not be hindered from going to the area.

"The technical committee must sit down and figure out the security arrangement and navigation in the area," Syed Hamid said.
Following the decision by the court on Friday, the government said a bilateral technical committee would be formed to draw up the two countries' maritime borders around Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks.

The committee would also determine which country possessed South Ledge, an outcropping southwest of Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks that is only visible at low tide - NST

Doing it the Asean way

By NST Editorial

IT was seen live on television and the official score now, so to speak, is level, with the venerable judges of the International Court of Justice ruling for Singapore in the case of Pulau Batu Puteh, giving Malaysia the Middle Rocks, and the South Ledge to be decided in extra time, which will be played out from now.

The live telecast from The Hague may not have had the worldwide audience that the live telecast from Moscow of the pulsating Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea commanded, extra time penalty shoot-out and all.

Nevertheless, the implications of the ICJ ruling could be far reaching for the two nations regarding the customary 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit and the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone which involves the question of oil and mineral rights, fishing and right of passage, considering that tiny Pulau Batu Puteh is about 14.3km from Johor and 46.3km from Singapore.

And it gets more complicated with Middle Rocks, the two rocks situated about half a nautical mile south of Pulau Batu Puteh, and 1.7 nautical miles from South Ledge, a low tide elevation, which, according to the ICJ, "belongs to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located", not exactly Solomon's justice, but the court was "not mandated to draw the line of delimitation with respect to the territorial waters of Malaysia and Singapore in the area in question".

And these complicated little bits of territories lie at the eastern entrance of the very busy Straits of Singapore, which provides the deepwater passage to the Port of Singapore. But complicated as it may be, both countries chartered the right course, referring the dispute, which arose in 1980, to the ICJ, whose finding is binding on both countries.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim declared the decision "a win-win outcome for both sides"; and continued that on South Ledge and other related matters, both countries would set up a committee and future announcements would be made through it.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said the country would "put this issue behind us and move on to strengthen our bilateral and regional co-operation". This is the Asean way to solving disputes, with respect for international law and a commitment to settling disagreements in an amicable manner, like the way Malaysia and Indonesia went to The Hague over Pulau Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan, with the court ruling in favour of Malaysia in 2002, a decision that was accepted by Indonesia - NST

After The Hague, it's time to move on

By Abdul Ghafur Hamid

IT was a suspenseful time for both Malaysian and Singaporean delegations to the Hague when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its judgment on Friday. The judgment was not a winner-take-all but a split one, adjudging Pulau Batu Puteh (PBP) to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia, and South Ledge to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.

PBP is a small granite rocky island, 137m by 60m (roughly half the size of a football field), which is located 7.7 nautical miles to the south of Johor and approximately 24 nautical miles to the east of Singapore.

The island is called Pulau Batu Puteh (White Rock Island) by Malaysia and Pedra Branca by Singapore.

The dispute arose on Feb 14, 1980, when Singapore protested against the 1979 map published by Malaysia showing PBP as part of Malaysian territory. Singapore claimed the Middle Rocks and South Ledge, two marine features near the island, in February 1993.

After exhausting a few years of bilateral consultations, the two countries submitted their dispute to the ICJ on July 24, 2003.
According to the Malaysian argument, PBP, the two marine features, and other islands in and around Singapore Strait were part of the Johor Sultanate before 1824.

This situation was confirmed by the Crawfurd Treaty of 1824, which ceded to Great Britain the Island of Singapore and all islets and rocks within 10 geographical miles off Singapore, but otherwise left the territory of Johor unaffected.

Therefore, Malaysia primarily invoked the original title over the island and two marine features by the Sultan of Johor from time immemorial. The main Malaysian stand before the ICJ was that PBP was not a no man's land (terra nullius) when the British East India Company constructed the Horsburgh Lighthouse on the island and sought and obtained the permission of the sultan and Temenggong of Johor to build the lighthouse on the island. Malaysia argued that Singapore's presence on the island was merely as lighthouse administrator. Neither Great Britain nor Singapore ever exercised sovereignty over the three features.

The main Singaporean contention was that the island and two marine features were terra nullius when the British constructed the lighthouse. They argued that the construction of the lighthouse and the authorisation of the British Crown constituted a classic taking of possession of a territory as a sovereign.

Title was acquired by the British in accordance with the legal principles governing the acquisition of territory in 1851. The title acquired in 1851 has been maintained by the British and its lawful successor, Singapore, for about 150 years and during such a long period Malaysia did not make any protests apart from the first assertion of sovereignty in 1979.

Singapore, therefore, primarily relied on the taking of possession of a territory not owned by any state and the continuous, peaceful and effective exercise of state authority over it.

From the perspective of international law, this case is a competition between a claim based on original title (Malaysia) and one invoking title by means of taking possession of a terra nullius and "peaceful and continuous exercise of state authority" (Singapore).

Malaysia maintains a track record of peacefully settling differences with neighbouring countries. It is a consistent practice of Malaysia to resort to international dispute resolution only when diplomatic means such as negotiation and consultation are exhausted.

A tremendous effort was made in the preparations for the Pulau Batu Puteh case. The Malaysian legal team was led by Malaysia's Agent Tan Seri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, and Co-Agent Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin.

Counsel and advocates for Malaysia included the (then) foreign minister of Malaysia, the attorney-general of Malaysia, and eminent international law experts such as professors James Crawford and Sir Elihu Lauterpacht QC from Cambridge University and Professor Nicolaas Jan Schrijver from Leiden University.

Head, deputy head and a strong team of federal counsel from the International Affairs Division of the A-G's Chambers were also part of the team.

The Malaysian legal team established a case that was the result of a thorough research for nearly 30 years, conducted by experts from various ministries and government departments, including academia.

The preparations for the case were the co-ordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the A-G's Chambers, the National Archives of Malaysia, the Department of Survey and Mapping and the Johor government, to mention only a few.

Based on this research, the legal team prepared one of the most compelling arguments to the ICJ, consisting of Written Memorials of 172 pages, Counter Memorials of 306 pages, and Reply of 213 pages, a number of documents and maps, together with oral submissions by counsel.

Now the much awaited judgment has come out. As far as PBP itself is concerned, the ICJ first of all accepted the Malaysian contention and concluded that the Sultanate of Johor had sovereignty over the island by means of original title from time immemorial.

The ICJ, however, found that the following acts and omissions of the parties since 1953 had decisively changed the legal position:

(1) the reply by the acting state secretary of Johor to the Singaporean government that the "Johor Government does not claim ownership of Pedra Branca"; [Refer HERE]

(2) the investigation of shipwrecks by Singapore within the island's territorial waters;

(3) the permission granted or not granted by Singapore to Malaysian officials to survey the waters surrounding the islands; and,

(4) the absence of protest from Malaysia to the flying of the Singapore ensign on the island, the installation of military communications equipment on the island in 1977 and the proposed plans by Singapore to extend the island as well as a few specific publications and maps.

The ICJ concluded that sovereignty over PBP had passed to Singapore due to peaceful and continuous display of sovereign acts on the part of Singapore since 1953 and acquiescence on the part of Malaysia.

Middle Rocks and South Ledge are maritime features located at 0.6 and 2.2 nautical miles respectively from PBP. Middle Rocks consist of some rocks that are permanently above water whereas South Ledge is a low-tide elevation.

In the absence of proof to the effect that the ancient and original title of the Sultan of Johor over Middle Rocks had passed to Singapore like in the case of PBP, the ICJ adjudged that sovereignty over Middle Rocks remained with Malaysia.

Since South Ledge is a low tide elevation and not an island, a specific legal principle applies. A low tide elevation is owned by the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.

South Ledge now falls within the overlapping territorial waters of the main land Malaysia, PBP and Middle Rocks.

The ICJ was not asked by the parties to delimit their territorial waters and as there are overlapping territorial waters in the area, the ICJ left open the question of sovereignty over South Ledge, which is to be determined by the parties themselves in future by delimiting their overlapping territorial waters.

The judgment of the ICJ is based on facts and evidence and in accordance with its consistent jurisprudence.

In any legal case, a party can only prepare the best case for it. Once the judgment has come out, it is the obligation of each party to abide by it no matter what the judgment is if supremacy of law is to be observed.

Since Malaysia owns Middle Rocks, which is only 0.6 nautical miles from PBP, Singapore cannot make any unilateral decision or work to reclaim land around the island.

It is also an urgent need for the two countries to negotiate the delimitation of territorial waters in the area. Now is the time for the two countries to fully co-operate in a spirit of the utmost friendliness.

In any case, let us give credit to those who deserve it - the Malaysian legal team and those who assisted in one way or another in preparing the Malaysian case - for their hard work and a wonderful job done.

Dr Abdul Ghafur Hamid @ Khin Maung Sein is professor of international law at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He may be contacted at ghafur@iiu.edu.my.

S'pore cannot act unilaterally in greater Batu Puteh area now

KOTA TINGGI, Sun - The split decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last Friday means that Singapore cannot act at its discretion in the greater area of Pulau Batu Puteh, the island over which it now has sovereignty, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said today.

He said the ICJ judgment also gave Malaysia sovereignty over Middle Rocks, located close to Pulau Batu Puteh, and as such Malaysia could exercise its right over the waters of Middle Rocks.

"Now Malaysia can conduct activities in the area (of the Middle Rocks), unlike previously when we could not do anything there,” he said.

Syed Hamid, who was previously foreign minister, spoke to reporters after an anti-drug activity in his Kota Tinggi parliamentary constituency.

He said Malaysians, particularly fishermen, could go to Middle Rocks now because it belonged to Malaysia.

The ICJ, in its judgment delivered on Friday to end the 28-year-old dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, awarded sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and sovereignty over Middle Rocks to Malaysia and ruled that South Ledge belonged to the country in the territorial waters of which it was located.

Syed Hamid said senior officials of both countries would have to work out the procedures and regulations pertaining to various matters, including security patrols and navigation in the waters of Pulau Batu Puteh and Middle Rocks.

The joint technical committee which would implement the decision of the ICJ would have to demarcate the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of both countries in those waters, he added.

"Either side cannot act unilaterally,” he said, adding that the

“Eye-in-the-Sky” patrol of the Malacca Straits could be emulated for navigational cooperation in those waters.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said his ministry was formulating new legislation on the prohibition of glue-sniffing and consumption of “ketum” leaves, and parliament was expected to approve the new bill at the end of the year - NST

Singapura tidak lagi bersendirian di Pulau Batu Puteh: Syed Hamid

KOTA TINGGI: Keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) di The Hague, Belanda mengenai hak kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh, Terumbu Karang Tengah dan Terumbu Karang Selatin, Jumaat lalu, menunjukkan Singapura kini tidak boleh bertindak sewenang-wenangnya di perairan itu sebagaimana yang dilakukannya sebelum ini, kata Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Menteri Dalam Negeri itu berkata, keputusan ICJ memberikan Malaysia kedaulatan mutlak terhadap Terumbu Karang Tengah membuktikan negara mempunyai hak terhadap perairan di kawasan itu.

"Keputusan ICJ itu bermakna Singapura tidak lagi bersendirian di kawasan perairan berkenaan. Malaysia juga berhak terhadap kawasan perairan terbabit. Kini kita boleh menjalankan aktiviti di kawasan itu, berbanding dahulu di mana kita tidak boleh langsung (menjalankan aktiviti),” katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan majlis Gerak Gempur Dadah Parlimen Kota Tinggi di sini, hari ini.

Katanya, warga Malaysia terutamanya nelayan kini boleh pergi ke Terumbu Karang Tengah kerana ia adalah hak milik negara ini.

Syed Hamid berkata beliau memahami ada perasaan sedih dengan kehilangan Pulau Batu Puteh, tetapi keputusan ICJ dua hari lalu itu juga turut mengandungi hikmah kepada Malaysia.

Singapura ketika mengemukakan kesnya kepada ICJ, kata beliau mahukan kedaulatan dan pemilikan terhadap Pulau Batu Puteh, Terumbu Karang Tengah dan Terumbu Karang Selatin, tetapi akhirnya hanya mendapat Pulau Batu Puteh manakala Malaysia diberi hak terhadap Terumbu Karang Tengah.

Republik itu sejak dahulu lagi meletakkan kapal peronda angkatan tenteranya di sekitar perairan ketiga-tiga struktur maritim berkenaan dan menghalau mana-mana pihak termasuk nelayan negara ini daripada menghampiri perairan di sekitarnya.

Nelayan Malaysia, katanya kini boleh menjadikan Terumbu Karang Tengah, yang terletak berhampiran dengan Pulau Batu Puteh itu sebagai kawasan perlindungan ketika cuaca buruk.

Syed Hamid berkata, pegawai kanan kedua-dua negara kini perlu berbincang dan merangka prosedur dan peraturan berkaitan pelbagai perkara termasuk kawalan keselamatan dan navigasi pelayaran kerana perairan di situ sudah menjadi perairan bersama.

Jawatankuasa Teknikal kedua-dua negara yang akan melaksanakan keputusan ICJ, katanya perlu merangka peta pelantar benua dan kawasan Zon Ekonomi Eksklusif (EEZ) kedua-dua negara di kawasan perairan itu - Bernama

Nelayan mahu kepastian untuk hampiri Terumbu Karang Tengah

KOTA TINGGI: Kira-kira 1,500 nelayan di Pengerang masih tertanya-tanya bagaimana mereka boleh mendekati Terumbu Karang Tengah yang kini disahkan menjadi milik Malaysia, untuk turun menangkap ikan di situ.

"Kita harap pihak berkuasa menyediakan panduan dari segi sempadan maritim atau garisan grid bagi memastikan nelayan kita tidak tersasar memasuki kawasan yang baru diputuskan itu,” kata Pengerusi Persatuan Nelayan Pengerang, Abu Bakar Mohamad.

“Pada ketika ini keadaan masih kabur dengan nelayan masih belum bersedia untuk menangkap ikan di Terumbu Karang Tengah kerana mereka bimbang ditahan oleh kapal peronda Singapura,” katanya kepada Bernama.

Abu Bakar berkata, bagi nelayan di Pengerang yang mahu ke Terumbu Karang Tengah, mereka akan melalui perairan Pulau Batu Puteh terlebih dulu dan kedudukan ini sudah tentu bakal memberi masalah kepada mereka.

Katanya, pihak Singapura sudah tentu tidak akan membenarkan sesiapa pun menghampiri perairan Pulau Batu Puteh yang kini diisytiharkan sebagai milik mereka - Bernama

Batu Puteh hak S'pura

Daripada Khirul Bahri Basaruddin di The Haque, Belanda

Penghakiman setebal 81 halaman putuskan Batuan Tengah milik Malaysia

THE HAQUE: Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) semalam memutuskan Singapura mempunyai hak ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh, manakala Batuan Tengah yang terletak tidak sampai satu kilometer dari pulau itu milik Malaysia.

Bagaimanapun, ICJ memutuskan hak milik Tubir Selatan, kira-kira empat kilometer dari Pulau Batu Puteh, akan ditentukan mengikut persempadanan perairan negara yang menguasainya.

Penghakiman setebal 81 halaman itu yang dibacakan oleh Naib Presiden ICJ, Hakim Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, selama kira-kira sejam 45 minit mulai 10 pagi itu, (4 petang waktu Malaysia), menamatkan pertikaian lebih 28 tahun oleh kedua-dua negara ke atas muka bumi itu.

Dalam keputusan berhubung Pulau Batu Puteh yang dikenali di Singapura sebagai Pedra Blanca, 12 hakim memihak kepada Singapura manakala empat Malaysia, Batuan Tengah (15-1). Bagi Tubir Selatan ICJ mengundi 15-1, ia hak negara yang memiliki perairannya.

Mereka mengiktiraf tuntutan Kesultanan Johor terhadap hak kedaulatan ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh serta dua lagi, tetapi mengambil kira bahawa lebih 100 tahun Malaysia tidak berbuat apa-apa untuk menunjukkan haknya ke atas pulau itu.


Hakim, Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh

Selain itu, surat Penolong Setiausaha kerajaan Johor pada 1953 kepada Singapura yang tidak menuntut hak milik ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh, dianggap mahkamah sebagai pengakuan penyerahan kedaulatan pulau berkenaan kepada republik itu.

Keputusan ICJ yang juga badan perundangan tertinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) itu, adalah muktamad dan mengikat kedua-dua negara serta tidak boleh dirayu lagi. Keputusan itu disiarkan secara langsung oleh RTM1.

Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim yang mengetuai rombongan Malaysia mendengar penghakiman itu, menyifatkan keputusan berkenaan sebagai menang-menang kerana Singapura tidak memperoleh semua yang dituntut, sebaliknya Malaysia diberi hak kedaulatan ke atas Batuan Tengah.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, Jawatankuasa Teknikal yang dibentuk kedua-dua negara bagi mengkaji hasil keputusan itu akan memulakan segera mesyuarat untuk mencari kaedah penyelesaian kedudukan Tubir Selatan, yang tidak diputuskan pemiliknya dalam penghakiman berkenaan.


BEBERAPA pelanggan di sebuah kedai makan di Chow Kit tidak ketinggalan mengikuti siaran langsung keputusan penghakiman Pulau Batu Putih yang dibawakan oleh Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM). Siaran langsung ini disiarkan mulai pukul 4 petang, semalam.

ICJ mula membicarakan tuntutan terhadap Pulau Batu Puteh pada 6 November 2007. Dokumen ratifikasi perjanjian khas untuk memeterai persetujuan kedua-dua negara membawa dan menerima sebarang keputusan ICJ berhubung kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan itu ditandatangani Malaysia dan Singapura pada 6 Februari 2003 ketika Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjadi Perdana Menteri.

Ini kali kedua ICJ membuat keputusan berhubung tuntutan wilayah bertindih membabitkan Malaysia. Pada Disember 2002, ICJ memutuskan Malaysia mempunyai hak kedaulatan terhadap Pulau Sipadan dan Pulau Ligitan di pantai Sabah, yang turut dituntut Indonesia.

Dalam menolak tuntutan Singapura ke atas Batuan Tengah, Awn Shawkat berkata, 15 hakim mendapati hak milik asal Batuan Tengah perlu dikekal kepada Malaysia sebagai pengganti Kesultanan Johor.

Beliau berkata, mahkamah tidak menerima tuntutan Singapura berhubung negara yang memiliki kedaulatan ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh, sekali gus mempunyai hak yang sama ke atas Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan.

Berhubung Pulau Batu Puteh, mahkamah menerima hujah Malaysia bahawa Kesultanan Johor mempunyai hak kedaulatan ke atas pulau berkenaan bermula sebelum 1800 hingga 1840 dan melalui surat pegawai kanan kerajaan Johor hak itu diserahkan kepada kerajaan British Singapura pada 1953.

"Mahkamah memutuskan Kesultanan Johor mempunyai hak milik asal ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh dan hak itu disokong serta disahkan melalui tindakan Sultan Johor mengambil tindakan ke atas Orang Laut yang tinggal di kepulauan di Selat Singapura termasuk Pulau Batu Puteh serta menjadi kawasan marin itu tempat penginapan mereka," katanya.

Katanya, hak kedaulatan pulau berkenaan terus berada di bawah Kesultanan Johor melalui perjanjian British-Belanda 1824, Triti Crawfurd 1824 dan apabila Sultan Johor bersetuju menyerahkan Singapura kepada Syarikat Hindia Timur (EIC).

Mengenai kedudukan perundangan ke atas pulau itu selepas 1840, Awn Shawkat berkata, mahkamah menimbang fakta yang berkaitan, terutama mengenai kegiatan atau tindakan yang dilakukan oleh pihak terbabit dalam tempoh itu.

"Kami meneliti kejadian yang berlaku dalam tempoh itu seperti proses pembinaan rumah api dan kegiatan yang berlaku pada 1852-1952, iaitu pengenalan peraturan mengenai rumah api serta sistem lampu selat, perkembangan perlembagaan Malaysia dan Singapura serta peraturan perikanan Johor pada 1860 tetapi semuanya tidak dapat membantu memuktamadkan kes di depan mahkamah ini.

"Bagaimanapun, mahkamah mengambil kira surat Penolong Setiausaha Kerajaan Johor dan mentafsirkan sebagai satu yang amat penting untuk menentukan persefahaman perkembangan kedua-dua pihak berhubung kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh.

"Justeru mahkamah mendapati surat jawapan Johor itu menunjukkan sejak 1953 lagi negeri itu sedar ia tidak lagi mempunyai hak kedaulatan ke atas pulau berkenaan," katanya.

Awn Shawkat berkata, mahkamah akhirnya meneliti tindakan atau kegiatan yang dilakukan kedua-dua pihak selepas 1953 dan membuat kesimpulan tindakan tertentu seperti penyiasatan Singapura berhubung kapal karam dalam perairannya, permohonan kebenaran pegawai Malaysia membuat kerja ukur di perairan pulau itu, sebagai tindak-tanduk melaksanakan hak kedaulatan.

Selain itu, katanya, mahkamah menimbang tindakan pihak lain yang menyokong tuntutan Singapura seperti tindakan Malaysia mendiamkan diri apabila Singapura mengibarkan bendera di Pulau Batu Puteh, pemasangan alat komunikasi tentera pada 1977, cadangan kerja penambakan laut, penerbitan tertentu serta peta.

Berdasarkan fakta itu, katanya, mahkamah memutuskan bahawa Singapura sudah mempunyai hak kedaulatan ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh sejak 1980, iaitu tarikh pertikaian kes itu bermula.

INFO: Pulau Batu Puteh

• Pulau Batu Puteh sebesar separuh padang bola sepak itu terletak kira-kira 12.8 kilometer (km) dari Pengerang, Johor dan 64 km ke timur Singapura.



• Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan secara geologi bersambung dengan Pulau Batu Puteh.



• Jarak di antara Batuan Tengah dengan Pulau Batu Puteh ialah 0.96 kilometer manakala Tubir Selatan dengan Pulau Batu Puteh kira-kira empat kilometer.



• Malaysia dan Singapura bersetuju membawa kes itu ke Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) pada 2003 ketika Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad menjadi Perdana Menteri.



• ICJ mula membicarakan tuntutan terhadap pulau itu pada 6 November 2007.



• Delegasi Malaysia terdiri daripada ejen, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad; ejen bersama, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin; Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail; Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Luar, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa dan wakil kerajaan Johor, Datuk Hamsan Saringat.



• Delegasi Singapura pula terdiri daripada Timbalan Perdana Menterinya, S Jayakumar; Ketua Hakim Negara, Chan Sek Keong; Peguam Negara, Chao Hick Tin dan ejennya, Prof Tommy Koh - Berita Harian

'Keputusan ICJ cetus pertindihan hak'

JOHOR BAHRU: Keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) di The Hague, Belanda semalam yang memberikan Singapura hak ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh, manakala Batuan Tengah menjadi milik Malaysia, mungkin boleh mencetuskan isu pertindihan hak kawasan antara kedua-dua negara.

Menteri Besar Johor, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, berkata isu pertindihan hak kawasan antara Malaysia dan Singapura itu timbul berikutan kedudukan Pulau Batu Puteh dan Pulau Batuan Tengah yang terlalu hampir antara satu sama lain.

"Agak menarik keputusan ICJ kerana kedua-dua pulau ini berdekatan tetapi kedaulatan berlainan," katanya pada sidang media selepas merasmikan kedai rekaan landskap Massif Design di Taman Universiti, Skudai, di sini, semalam.

ICJ melalui pengundian 12-4 yang berpihak kepada Singapura terhadap hak kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh, manakala Malaysia pula melalui pengundian 15-1 diberikan hak kedaulatan Pulau Batuan Tengah.

Pulau Batu Puteh sebesar separuh padang bola sepak terletak kira-kira 12.8 kilometer (km) dari Pengerang, Johor dan 64 km ke Timur Singapura. Jarak antara Batuan Tengah dengan Pulau Batu Puteh ialah 0.96 km, manakala Terumbu Karang Selatan dengan Pulau Batu Puteh kira-kira 4 km.

Berikutan itu, kata Ghani, Johor menyerahkan kepada Kerajaan Pusat untuk membuat keputusan seterusnya terhadap pulau Batuan Tengah selepas sah ia menjadi hak Malaysia.

Katanya, Kerajaan Pusat mempunyai kuasa penuh untuk melaksanakan apa juga bentuk pembangunan yang mungkin boleh dijalankan di pulau berhampiran Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang itu.

Ghani berkata, Johor berpendapat Malaysia dan Singapura perlu menunggu rumusan terperinci daripada Jawatankuasa Teknikal sebelum mengambil sebarang tindakan terhadap kedua-dua pulau yang sah menjadi hak masing-masing itu bagi mengelak pertindihan hak kewilayahan.

"Saya percaya jawatankuasa itu akan membuat pertimbangan terbaik dan mengambil kira semua aspek, terutama berkaitan hak dan kawasan perairan serta kesannya terhadap subjek lain termasuk kegiatan nelayan di Pengerang.

"Johor menerima keputusan ICJ dengan hati terbuka dan yang jelas ialah kedaulatan Johor khususnya daripada segi sejarah adalah tepat dan benar terhadap semua pulau yang ada di situ dan Singapura sendiri. Daripada aspek sejarah, kedaulatan Johor diterima ICJ," katanya.

Selain Batu Puteh, beliau berkata setakat ini tidak ada lagi pulau di negeri ini yang mempunyai masalah berbangkit, terutama berkaitan tuntutan hak milik dan kedaulatan membabitkan Johor dengan negara lain.

Katanya, Pulau Pisang di Pontian tidak menghadapi masalah tuntutan hak dari negara lain kerana jelas pulau itu adalah hak milik Johor berdasarkan kepada pendaftaran tanah yang dilakukan di negeri ini.

"Kita tidak menghadapi masalah pertikaian hak dan kedaulatan berhubung Pulau Pisang kerana ia adalah sah milik Johor dan tidak boleh dituntut negara lain," katanya.

Sementara itu, jurucakap Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia berkata, proses menentukan garis sempadan baru antara kedua-dua negara mungkin mengambil sedikit masa.

"Sebelum ini Pulau Batu Puteh adalah garis sempadan yang memisahkan negara kita dengan negara jiran itu dan kini ia sudah pasti berubah," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.

Bagaimanapun, jurucakap itu mengakui tindakan segera perlu diambil bagi menentukan sempadan baru maritim negara.

"Saya percaya, ketika ini sudah pasti ramai nelayan yang tidak akan pergi ke kawasan sana (Pulau Batu Puteh dan Batuan Tengah) kerana bimbang kemungkinan tersilap masuk ke perairan negara jiran itu," katanya - Berita Harian

Keluasan Batu Puteh hanya separuh padang bola sepak

KUALA LUMPUR: Pulau Batu Puteh yang menjadi pertikaian antara Malaysia dan Singapura hampir 30 tahun adalah sebesar separuh padang bola sepak, yang terletak di luar pantai tenggara Pengerang, Johor.

Pulau seluas 2,000 meter persegi terletak di pertemuan Selat Johor dan Laut China Selatan itu menempatkan Rumah Api Horsburgh, menjadi rebutan antara kedua-dua negara sejak 1979.

Pulau Batu Puteh terletak kira-kira 12.8 kilometer dari Pengerang, Johor dan 64 kilometer ke timur Singapura. Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan secara geologi bersambung dengan Pulau Batu Puteh.

Jarak antara Pulau Batu Puteh dengan Batuan Tengah ialah 0.96 kilometer manakala jarak Pulau Batu Puteh dengan Tubir Selatan kira-kira empat kilometer. Jarak antara Batuan Tengah dengan Tubir Selatan ialah tiga kilometer.

Pada 1979, Malaysia melakukan pemetaan sempadan maritim meliputi Pulau Batu Puteh sebagai wilayahnya kerana mendakwa Kesultanan Johor tidak pernah menyerahkan pulau itu ketika menyerahkan Singapura kepada British pada 1824.

Pulau itu diserahkan kepada British untuk tujuan pembinaan Rumah Api bagi memudahkan laluan kapal melalui perairan berkenaan.

Berikutan itu, Malaysia dan Singapura bersetuju membawa kes itu ke Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) pada tahun 2003. ICJ mula membicarakan tuntutan terhadap pulau itu pada 6 November 2007.

Singapura diberikan empat hari antara 6 dan 9 November 2007 untuk menggulung hujah lisan pusingan pertama, sementara Malaysia diberikan giliran pada 13 hingga 16 November 2007.

Pusingan kedua oleh Singapura pada 19 dan 20 November dan Malaysia pada 22 dan 23 November 2007.

Delegasi Malaysia terdiri daripada ejen Malaysia, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad; ejen bersama, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail; Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Luar, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa serta wakil kerajaan Johor, Datuk Hamsan Saringat.

Delegasi Singapura pula terdiri daripada Timbalan Perdana Menterinya, S Jayakumar; Peguam Negara, Chao Hick Tin dan ejen Singapura, Prof Tommy Koh.

Berikut adalah antara hujah Singapura kepada ICJ iaitu negara itu menduduki Pulau Batu Puteh atau yang dipanggil Pedra Branca lebih 130 tahun sejak 1840 tanpa sebarang bantahan dari Malaysia.

Sepanjang tempoh itu, negara itu menyelenggara Rumah Api Horsburgh dan kemudahan lain di pulau berkenaan, selain membantu kapal yang belayar di kawasan itu dengan selamat.

Dalam tempoh 130 tahun itu juga Malaysia tidak pernah menuntut hak ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh, terutama pada 1965 ketika Singapura menjadi sebuah negara merdeka serta mempunyai hak kedaulatan ke atas pulau di dalam wilayahnya.

Singapura mendakwa memorandum pemangku Setiausaha Kerajaan Johor pada 1953 yang menyatakan negeri itu tidak membuat sebarang tuntutan ke atas Pulau Batu Puteh yang ditadbir Singapura. Malah, dalam peta Malaysia sebelum 1974, menunjukkan pulau itu milik Singapura.

Malaysia mengemukakan hujah yang antaranya faktor sejarah dengan keterangan kukuh membuktikan perjanjian Johor-British dan British-Belanda pada 1824, mengesahkan Sultan Johor mempunyai hak milik asal terhadap Pulau Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan.

Malaysia menafikan Pulau Batu Puteh adalah ‘Terra Nullius’ iaitu tidak bertuan seperti yang didakwa Singapura kerana pulau itu adalah tempat nelayan untuk berlindung apabila berhadapan dengan ribut kencang dan ancaman lanun.

Malah, perairannya menjadi kawasan penangkapan ikan yang strategi bagi Orang Laut di Pengerang dan Teluk Ramunia, Johor. Malaysia turut mengemukakan tujuh dokumen bertulis untuk mengukuhkan hujah mereka - Berita Harian