SINGAPORE will oppose Malaysia application to the International Court of Justice for an interpretation of the 2008 ruling that awarded sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh to the island republic.

In a statement yesterday, the Singaporean Foreign Mi­­nistry noted that Malaysia’s ap­­plication for the interpretation filed on Friday was additional and separate from the February 2 application for revision of the ICJ’s judgment.

The 2008 ruling to settle the question of sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh (known as Pedra Branca in Singapore) had also decided on the status of two other nearby maritime features, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

Malaysia’s application on Friday had said the meaning of the 2008 ICJ ruling that ‘sovereignty over Pedra Branda/Pulau Batu Puteh belongs to Singapore’ and  ‘sovereignty over South Ledge belongs to the State in the territorial waters of which it is located’, were unclear. 

Malaysia is seeking the court to declare that the waters surrounding Pulau Batu Puteh are Malaysia’s, and that South Ledge is located within Malaysian waters and belongs to Malaysia.

Middle Rocks were awarded to Malaysia in the 2008 ruling.

Singapore said yesterday that Malaysia’s request was puzzling.

“In our view, the ICJ judgment is clear and unambiguous. Malay­­sia’s request for the ICJ to interpret the judgment is puzzling.

“Singapore will therefore op­­pose Malaysia’s application for interpretation, which we consider to be both unnecessary and without merit,” said the ministry.

“Just as we are confident of our case on the revision application, we are also confident that we are on strong grounds to oppose this latest application by Malaysia for interpretation,” it said.

Singapore said it would file its written observations on the interpretation in due course and was committed to resolving these issues according to international law.

Malaysia filed the application for revision of the ICJ judgment on February 2, following its discovery of three documents in Britain’s Na­­tional Archives to support its claim over the island and maritime features.

Singapore had filed its written observations in response to Malaysia’s revision application with the ICJ on May 24.  – July 2, 2017.