Pedra Branca a.k.a Pulau Batu Puteh

THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in the Netherlands has awarded sovereignty of Pedra Branca island to Singapore, while the sovereignty of Middle Rocks has been awarded to Malaysia.

The world court delivered the judgment on Friday, after several rounds of written and oral pleadings by disputing countries Singapore and Malaysia. The ICJ last heard arguments from both sides in November 2007.

For Pedra Branca, ICJ's 16-member bench voted 12-4 in favour of Singapore.
Ownership of Middle Rocks, a maritime feature 0.6 nautical miles from Pedra Branca, was voted 15-1 to Malaysia.

The verdict brings to a close a 28-year row between the two neighbours. The dispute arose in 1980 when Singapore protested against a new Malaysian map of its maritime boundaries, which claimed the islet for itself.

Years of bilateral talks failed to resolve the matter and the parties agreed to seek the intervention of the UN court.

Pedra Branca, which Malaysia calls Pulau Batu Puteh, is located some 24 nautical miles to the east of Singapore and it commands the entire eastern approach to the Singapore Strait, through which almost 900 ships pass daily.

Pedra Branca also houses the Horsburgh Lighthouse, the oldest feature on the island which was built by the British between 1847 and 1851.

Leaders from both Singapore and Malaysia had said they would accept the ICJ's decision and stressed that whichever way it went, it would not affect bilateral ties.

(Tamat sudah kasih sayang...bercerai lalu merinduimu...punah harapan....a.k.a Hampehhh!!!!)