KUALA LUMPUR: The final report on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge by a special task force reviewing the related laws will be tabled before the Cabinet on Friday, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said the contents included recommendations to help the government in its commitment to ensure that the sovereignty of the nation’s maritime borders was preserved and prioritised.
“The special task force was chaired by former attorney general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali from Nov 9, 2021, to Aug 30, 2022.
“It is clear evidence of the government’s commitment to this matter,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Wan Junaidi said the task force comprised lawyers who handled the case from 2016 to 2017 as well as legal practitioners, maritime surveyors, and representatives of relevant ministries.
In 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Pedra Branca (Batu Puteh) belonged to Singapore, while sovereignty over the nearby Middle Rocks (Terumbu Karang Tengah) was awarded to Malaysia.
The Malaysian government filed an application in 2017 for a review of the ICJ decision.
In 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government withdrew an application to overturn the ruling awarding legal jurisdiction of Batu Puteh to Singapore before the hearing of the case, which was scheduled for June 11 that year.
