S’ingapore files rebuttal in Batu Puteh dispute

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today disclosed that the republic has filed its written observations on Malaysia’s request for interpretation of the International Court of Justice’s 2008 judgment concerning sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

In a statement, it said Singapore filed the documents with the ICJ on Oct 30, 2017.

The ministry noted that Malaysia’s request dated June 30, 2017 was made pursuant to Article 60 of the Statute of the ICJ, which states that, “in the event of dispute as to the meaning or scope of the judgment, the Court shall construe it upon the request of any party.”

The ministry said Singapore’s written observations were a comprehensive rebuttal to Malaysia’s request for interpretation of the judgment.

“Singapore is confident of its case and its legal team,” it said, adding that the next step following the written proceedings would be for the parties to present their oral arguments once the ICJ had fixed the schedule for the oral proceedings.

Singapore has also chosen Gilbert Guillaume to sit as judge ad hoc for the purposes of Malaysia’s request for interpretation of the ICJ’s May 23, 2008 judgment.

This is in accordance with the statute of the ICJ, which provides that a party may choose a judge ad hoc who will take part in the decision on the case, if there is no judge of the nationality of that party on the bench of the court, it said.

Judge Guillaume was a Member of the ICJ from 1987 to 2005, and served as its president from 2000 to 2003.

He is currently a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Judge Guillaume was also chosen by Singapore as judge ad hoc for the purposes of Malaysia’s separate application dated Feb 2, 2017, to revise the ICJ’s 2008 judgment.

- Bernama