PM: Malaysia might reconsider its fresh bids on Batu Puteh dispute

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia might reconsider its fresh applications in the Pulau Batu Puteh sovereignty dispute case.

“We are doing some rethinking about that (the Pulau Batu Puteh case).

“We will reconsider that,” Mahathir said in a press conference after chairing the cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.

He also added that they are thinking of expanding development in Middle Rocks.

On May 9, 2003, both Malaysia and Singapore agreed to submit their dispute on sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), and two nearby maritime features, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In 2008, ICJ gave the sovereignty of Batu Puteh to Singapore. The court ruled that Malaysia owned Middle Rocks, while it refrained from awarding South Ledge to either country, stating that it belonged to the government in whose territorial waters it is located.

However, in February last year, Malaysia filed a fresh application to review the Batu Puteh ruling after the discovery of “new facts”. 

In July last year, Malaysia also filed a separate application requesting the ICJ to interpret the 2008 judgement on the sovereignty dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh between Malaysia and Singapore. - Mkini