Kuala Lumpur - The Malaysian team tasked with the responsibility to defend the country`s sovereignty on Batu Puteh at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, worked hard and did their best for Malaysia`s victory, the Dewan Rakyat heard Monday.
Before referring the dispute to the ICJ, the team made thorough preparations including conducting research and gathering evidence, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.
"The Malaysian team carried out research throughout the world with full dedication till the last minute before the trial," he said in his written reply to John Fernandez (DAP-Seremban) and Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan).
He said many officials from various government agencies, appointed researchers, experts in certain fields and advisors of international laws were involved in presenting the Malaysian side of the story during the court hearing.
Dr Rais said the ICJ decided that Malaysia had no right on Batu Puteh based on a historical fact that the Johor authorities and later Malaysia did not take any action on Batu Puteh between June 1850 until nearly a century later. This was supported with official Malaysian maps in the 1960s and 1970s which showed Batu Puteh was owned by Singapore and a letter from acting State Secretary of Johor dated Sept 21, 1953 which states that Johor had no sovereignty over Batu Puteh.
The ICJ, however, ruled Malaysia owned Middle Rocks, while the position of South Ledge would be decided on where it is located, whether in Malaysia or Singapore waters.
Dr Rais was confident that Malaysia would have sovereignty over South Ledge based on its location in the country`s territorial waters.
The ICJ decided on May 23 that Singapore owned Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, while the position of Middle Rocks would be determined on its locality, whether in Malaysia or Singapore waters.
Source: www.trollo-leuchttuerme.com (1 Juli 1008)