S’pore to oppose KL’s latest bid on Batu Puteh

SINGAPORE: Singapore will oppose Malaysia’s application for interpretation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 2008 Judgment in the case concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

In a statement yesterday, the Singaporean Foreign Affairs Ministry noted that Malaysia’s application for interpretation filed on Friday was additional to, and separate from, its Feb 2, 2017 application for revision of the ICJ’s judgment.

“In our view, the ICJ judgment is clear and unambiguous. Malaysia’s request for the ICJ to interpret the judgment is puzzling.

“Singapore will therefore oppose Malaysia’s application for interpretation, which we consider to be both unnecessary and without merit,” said the ministry.

The ministry added that Singapore would file its written observations on the interpretation application in due course.

“Just as we are confident of our case on the revision application, we are also confident that we are on strong grounds to oppose this latest application by Malaysia for interpretation,” it said.

The ministry noted that Singapore was committed to resolving these issues in accordance with international law.

In its filing which was disclosed by the Haguebased ICJ in a press release issued on Friday, Malaysia had requested the court to adjudge and declare that the waters surrounding Pedra Branca or Pulau Batu Puteh remained within the territorial waters of Malaysia; and South Ledge is located in the territorial waters of Malaysia, and consequently sovereignty over South Ledge belonged to Malaysia.

Malaysia filed the application for revision of the ICJ judgment on Feb 2, following its discovery of three documents at the National Archives of Britain to support its claim.

Singapore, meanwhile, had filed its written observations in response to Malaysia’s revision application with the ICJ on May 24,2017. — Bernama

In our view, the ICJ judgment is clear and unambiguous. Malaysia’a request for the ICJ to reinterpret the judgmentme is puzzling. Singapore Foreign Ministry

For a good cause: Members of the People Support People society training for a diving session at Pulau Perhentian to help in marine conservation.