Singapore will oppose Malaysia’s application for interpretation of ICJ’s 2008 judgment

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

In a statement yesterday, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) noted that Malaysia’s application for interpretation which it 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 MFA.

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.

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

In its filing which was disclosed by the Hague-based ICJ in a press release issued on Friday, Malaysia had requested the Court to adjudge and declare that the waters surrounding Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh remained within the territorial waters of Malaysia; as South Ledge is located in the territorial waters of Malaysia, consequently sovereignty over it 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 the United Kingdom 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