Malaysia and Singapore are actively negotiating maritime boundaries based on UNCLOS 1982, with talks covering multiple areas including Batu Puteh
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Singapore are actively continuing negotiations on maritime boundary delimitation involving several water areas. All decisions are based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the negotiations are ongoing and well-managed. This includes the latest discussion session held yesterday between the Director-General of the Maritime Affairs Department and Singaporean officials.
He explained the talks are not focused on a single area. They involve several maritime boundary zones between the two countries requiring thorough examination.
“These negotiations are not just one; they involve many maritime border areas between the two countries. So we want to ensure it is managed well,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Mohamad was answering a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) regarding the latest status of negotiations related to Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge. He stated these involve issues of sovereignty, national dignity and the people’s trust.
Any decision regarding the Malaysia-Singapore maritime boundary will be decided within the framework of international law. He stressed Malaysia uses UNCLOS 1982 as the primary basis in the negotiation process.
Malaysia remains committed to legal principles and emphasises the importance of defending sovereignty and national rights. Regarding the security situation in the waters of Batu Puteh, Mohamad said the issue is governed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision in 2008.
It is discussed through the annual platform for Malaysian and Singaporean leaders. “Regarding Batu Puteh, we are subject to the decision or judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2008,” he said.
“That is why both countries hold annual leaders’ meetings to negotiate together on how to resolve the maritime boundary between Malaysia and Singapore.” He said the negotiations aim to ensure national sovereign rights are not compromised.
They are conducted in a good atmosphere between both parties.
