THE HAGUE: The court hearing on a disputed island in the Straits of Singapore resumes later on Tuesday with the Malaysian team presenting its evidence.
The hearing in the International Court of Justice is expected to last till 23 November. It is a dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over which country owns the island, which Singapore calls Pedra Branca, and Malaysia refers to as Pulau Batu Puteh.
Two outcrops of Middle Rocks and South Ledge are in contention.
The hearing began last week with the Singapore team making oral presentations for four days.
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Pedra Branca hearing resumes with Malaysia's presentation
Singapore's team, including Deputy Prime Minister and Law Minister S Jayakumar and Ambassador-at-Large, Tommy Koh, spent four days presenting facts and evidence to prove that Singapore owns Pedra Branca and its outcrops.
Chief Justice, Chan Sek Keong and Attorney-General Chao Hick Tin are also involved in this case.
Four renowned international counsel also backed up Singapore's case.
Singapore was given four days to complete its oral argument before the judges and now Malaysia will also take four days to present its case.
The dispute came about when, in 1979, Malaysia published a map of its territories which included Pedra Branca, or Pulau Batu Puteh as it is known in Malaysia.
Singapore objected to it because it says the island was handed down to it from the British and therefore rightfully belongs to Singapore.
Malaysia claims the island belongs to it for reasons like how its fishermen fished in the waters around the area in the past and that it falls under the Johor Sultanate.
But Singapore rejects these claims, citing examples like how it has consistently conducted and maintained the activities and works on the island, thus exercising sovereignty over it.
Singapore also cited a 1953 letter which showed that the Johor state then said it did not own Pedra Branca island.
The Malaysian team includes its Ambassador-at-Large and Adviser for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister, Abdul Kadir Mohamad, and Ambassador to Netherlands, Noor Farida Ariffin.
They also have a team of five foreign counsel to defend their position.
Like Singapore, the Malaysians are also expected to showcase geographical maps and historical documentation when they put their case forward.
After Malaysia completes its four days of oral presentation, the court will spend two days listening to Singapore's rebuttal of Malaysia's statements.
Malaysia will then get two days after that to do the same. - CNA/ch
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