Singapore, Malaysia Will Accept Any Decision On Pulau Batu Putih By ICJ - George Yeo
By Zakaria Abdul Wahab
SINGAPORE, April 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Singapore will accept whatever decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague on Pulau Batu Putih in the Johor Straits which has been a long standing and thorny issue in the diplomatic relations between the two close neighbours.
"Whatever is the decision, we will accept it," Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo and his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Thursday.
"We both agreed that if Malaysia were to win, Singapore would congratulate Malaysia, and if Singapore were to win, Malaysia would congratulate Singapore," Yeo told a media conference after Rais called on him at his office.
Rais, who is on an introductory visit to Singapore since his appointment as the new Foreign Minister, earlier met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana.
Yeo said the judgment on Pedra Banca (as Singaporeans call Pulau Batu Putih) would likely be made by the ICJ in the middle or end of next month and the outcome would not affect bilateral relations of the two countries.
"Nothing should change," Yeo said, adding that this was the common position that both countries agreed to take and declare it to all Malaysians and Singaporeans.
