(Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini)
Taken from Malaysiakini:Pontian parliamentarian Ahmad Maslan from the ruling Barisan Nasional said in a statement that the government should now act swiftly to protect the sovereignty of Pulau Pisang, situated about 15km off the Johor coastline in the Straits of Malacca.Here we go again. Another island (a real island this time, not just 'pebbles' and 'rocks'), another lighthouse, the same two sides. Let's hope this one can be resolved outside of the ICJ.
In 1900, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor handed the island to the British colonial administration based in Singapore.
A 16-metre lighthouse was built on the highest peak of the island and has been managed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Pas Youth chief Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil, in a separate statement, urged Malaysia to meet with Singapore to determine ownership over the island.
He pointed out that:
• The Marine Department of Malaysia does not list the Pulau Pisang lighthouse as one of the 14 lighthouses managed by the government.
• Data from the University of North Carolina states that the lighthouse is owned and managed by Singapore.
• The Lighthouse Depot website recognises Singapore’s authority in managing the island, so long as the lighthouse is in operation, even though the island is located in Malaysian territory.
• MPA has indicated that Singapore is still managing the lighthouse.
Suggesting the bilateral talks should be held to enable Malaysia to take over management of the lighthouse, Khairul also said development and management activities should be established to mark Malaysian authority over the island.
In addition, the government should ascertain that no agreement was ever made to hand the island to Singapore.
“The government should act quickly resolve this situation so that the rakyat will not have the nightmare of twice losing an island,” added Khairul.
Keep an eye out for future developments on this issue!
3 comments:
Hi,
may I refer you to "http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/parliament/relations/special4.htm".?
"Professor S Jayakumar replied; "Let me say upfront Pulau Pisang belongs to Malaysia. We have never disputed Malaysia''s sovereignity over Pulau Pisang but our MPA however has a right to operate the lighthouse there and the plot of land as well as the raod
leading to lighthouse has been granted in perpetuaty so long as Singapore operates that lighthouse. It's in an indenture between Johor Sultanate and the Straits Settlements in 1900; so Pulau Pisang we never contested the sovereignty."
Singapore is not contesting the sovereignty of Pulau Pisang.
Terry
Haiya, when people are ignorant this is what would happen. Thanks Terry Lee for clarifying the matter on Pulau Pisang.
I know about it and the mainstream Newspaper have long ago made mention of Pulau Pisang where there was no problem on sovereign rights of the Island.
And the way the people reacted to the ICJ judgment makes me cringe more so those suppoese to be educated.
Malaysia lost because (1) the Sultanate of Johore through her secretary of state gave an undertaking to the Governor of Singapore that the Sultanate has no claim of ownershp over Batu Puteh; and (2) Malaysia did not act or make any claim from 1957 - 1978 over Batu Puteh.
Malaysia won because S'pore claim middle rock too and ICJ acknowledged Johore's sovereignty over Batu Puteh up to 1953.
Terry - Thanks. The link you provided was very informative and it definitely cleared up the issue at hand. I'd like to clarify that what I wrote on was based on the information I got from whatever resources I had at the time, and I am more than happy to receive more links that'll better inform me of such things.
I have to admit that Professor S Jayakumar is right when saying, "Malaysian media will not report correctly or sometimes not at all." There are times when every news report is biased in a way. So I would like to mention in advance that I mean not to spark tensions or anything of the sort, but rather to comment on issues based on the information I have at the time.
Mak Jun Yeen - Thanks for the comments! And about how Malaysia lost Pulau Batu Putih, it's debatable but you present good arguments. Definitely acceptable. Since the issue is over and done with, I reserve my comment that Malaysia screwed up, whether it be at the ICJ or since the 1960's. Cheers! And do keep the comments coming!
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