MALAYSIA is sending a message to its neighbours that the new government wants to focus on solving domestic political and economic issues, and is not out to create diplomatic tensions, said The Straits Times newspaper.

Mustafa Izzuddin, a fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said the Pakatan Harapan government’s priority now is to stabilise the country, both politically and economically.

“They may not have wanted to get themselves entangled so soon in court hearings,” he told the newspaper.

He said that following the move to scrap the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR), Malaysia may have also wanted to create a “more positive diplomatic climate” going into negotiations with Singapore.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that the decision to cancel the HSR project was due to high costs, but added that negotiations with Singapore on the cancellation could result in a penalty.

Given the timing, Malaysia could have concluded it may not be beneficial to revisit the old issue of Pedra Branca, Norshahril Saat also from ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Dropping the case is “a way for Malaysia to signal to Singapore that it is mainly interested in tackling domestic economic issues, and not creating tensions via foreign policy”, he was quoted as saying.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said that Malaysia had informed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday that it would discontinue the proceedings it had initiated earlier disputing the ownership of Pedra Branca.

Law dean at the National University of Singapore Simon Chesterman said in a Facebook post that the withdrawal is consistent with the new government’s efforts to carefully manage public finances.

“Though an ICJ case is far less expensive than some of the infrastructure projects now being reconsidered, lawyers’ fees and trips to and from The Hague with a low chance of success might not be seen as a worthwhile investment,” he said.

At a press conference yesterday, Dr Mahathir also revealed that Malaysia intends to develop and expand existing structures on the nearby Middle Rocks – over which it was granted sovereignty – “so that we can form a small island for us”.

Political analyst Derek da Cunha was quoted by The Straits Times as saying that the strategic significance of Singapore’s presence on Pedra Branca would be diminished if Malaysia expands Middle Rocks into a small island. – May 31, 2018.