Singapore to halt Batu Puteh development plans, reclamation activities, says deputy minister

Singapore has agreed to halt all development plans and reclamation activities in the Batu Puteh area. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin said this followed Malaysia's stance and objections on the matter, both verbal and in writing.

"Malaysia has been firm in its position that Singapore has no right and it is inappropriate to continue planning development works and reclamation activities until the two countries finalise the maritime borders in those waters," he said in his winding-up speech for the foreign ministry during the debate on the royal address at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Mohamad said besides the delimitation of maritime borders, negotiations on Singapore's unilateral development plan in Batu Puteh had also been initiated by the two countries.
 
"The foreign ministry, along with the related core government agencies, are examining the current developments and studying the actions that can be taken from various aspects, including international law and bilateral diplomatic relations," he said.

Mohamad said Malaysia remained firm in its stand that the Batu Puteh issue must be handled diplomatically and in good faith.

He said the government hoped that Singapore would act similarly by respecting and not implementing any decision that reflects bad faith and which is against the spirit of the ongoing negotiation process.

On May 23, 2008, the International Court of Justice ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca) while Malaysia had sovereignty over Batuan Tengah (Middle Rocks). 

Mohamad said both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments had formed a specific mechanism to implement the judgment as well as to deal with other related issues, through the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Technical Committee on the Implementation of the International Court of Justice Judgment on Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.