Pedra Branca: Singapore ready to discuss with Malaysia, hopes for sustainable solution
SINGAPORE - The Singapore government is ready to discuss with Malaysia on the controversial Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca) claim.
As it stands, Batu Puteh has been awarded to Singapore by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the territorial dispute between both countries.
Singaporean Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman said the government remained committed to address the arising issues over the claim adding that discussions with Malaysia could be taken forward.
“I do not want to say too much about Pedra Branca, because I think there are still a lot of issues that have been raised.
“What is more important, is to look at it from where it was in terms of ICJ’s judgment, and subsequently what are the issues that have surfaced.
“We continue to be ready to discuss with Malaysia on their concerns over Pedra Branca, and continue to give assurances on what is happening there, and where we can take the discussion forward.
“I do not want to pre-empt the discussions that will be taking place,” he said during a fireside chat with the Malaysian press in conjunction with the 15th Malaysian Journalists Visit Programme, here.
He said the government wanted a sustainable solution moving forward over the issue.
Asked if Singapore had gone back to ICJ to discuss the issue, Maliki said they did not.
“No (we did not return to ICJ), I think it is dependent on the issues which have been raised. What aspect of it needs to be returned to the ICJ?.
“As far as the ICJ’s judgment is concerned, we know what the decisions were.
“We hope that we can discuss it, but if ever there has to be some form of adjudication, then we will discuss with our Malaysian counterparts on what would be the solutions that we can look at,” he said.
Previously, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar had asked Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun to look into the matters arising from the claim so that there could be “meaningful” negotiations with Singapore over the issue.
Anwar said the negotiations should be done without jeopardising bilateral relations.
