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

Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamad Alamin said this is following Malaysia’s objections both verbally 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 border in those waters,” he said.

Mohamad said this in his winding-up for the Foreign Ministry during the debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said apart from the delimitation of maritime borders, negotiations on Singapore’s unilateral development plan in Pulau Batu Puteh have also been initiated by the two countries.

“The Foreign Ministry, along with the related core government agencies, is examining current developments and is studying actions that can be taken from various aspects, including based on international law and bilateral diplomatic relations,” he said.

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

He said the government hopes that Singapore will also act similarly in respecting and by not implementing any decision that reflects bad faith and that is against the spirit of the ongoing negotiation process between the two countries.

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

Mohamad said both governments have also formed a specific mechanism to implement the judgment and 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. – Bernama, February 23, 2023.