Singapore Foreign Minister Reiterates Strong Ties with Malaysia Amid RCI Report

Singapore’s Position on RCI Report

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has reiterated that the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge should not affect the strong ties between Singapore and Malaysia. In a written parliamentary reply, Balakrishnan stated that the RCI is an internal matter of Malaysia and should not impact the good bilateral relations between the two countries.

Maritime Boundaries Discussed at Leaders’ Retreat

Balakrishnan mentioned that maritime boundaries were among the issues discussed during the 11th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat, which concluded recently. He emphasized that the two prime ministers, Lawrence Wong and Anwar Ibrahim, have agreed to continue discussions on outstanding issues constructively.

Joint Technical Committee Continues to Meet

Balakrishnan also stated that a joint technical committee on the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) judgment on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge continues to be an important platform for the two countries to meet and discuss outstanding matters in a “constructive manner.”

Acceptance of ICJ’s Decision

Both Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to accept and abide by the ICJ’s decision, which is final and binding on both countries. Balakrishnan added that under the ICJ Statute, an application for revision could not be made after the expiry of 10 years from the date of the ICJ’s 2008 judgment.

Background of the Dispute

The ICJ awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia, while the ownership of South Ledge, situated about 4km from Batu Puteh, was left for determination based on the delimitation of territorial waters. Putrajaya filed an application on February 3, 2017, to review the ICJ’s decision, handed down nine years earlier, to award Singapore sovereignty over Batu Puteh. The ICJ awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia, while the ownership of South Ledge, situated about 4km from Batu Puteh, was left for determination based on the delimitation of territorial waters.

Withdrawal of Applications

On June 30, 2017, Putrajaya filed an application to interpret the ICJ’s judgment to address its ambiguities and implications, particularly regarding the status of South Ledge. However, upon wresting control of Putrajaya at the general election in May 2018, the Pakatan Harapan government, with Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister, withdrew both applications before they came up for hearing in June 2018.

RCI Findings

The RCI, which was established in February 2024 to look into matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge, found that Mahathir had likely acted deliberately to influence the Cabinet to discontinue the applications despite the views of international consultants who said they had a reasonable likelihood of success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has reiterated that the RCI report on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge should not affect the strong ties between Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries have agreed to accept and abide by the ICJ’s decision, and the joint technical committee will continue to meet to discuss outstanding matters.

FAQs

Q: What is the RCI report on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge?

A: The RCI report is an investigation into matters related to the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge.

Q: What is the ICJ’s decision on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge?

A: The ICJ awarded Middle Rocks to Malaysia, while the ownership of South Ledge, situated about 4km from Batu Puteh, was left for determination based on the delimitation of territorial waters.

Q: Why did Malaysia withdraw its applications to review the ICJ’s decision?

A: Malaysia withdrew its applications after the Pakatan Harapan government came to power in May 2018.

Q: What is the significance of the joint technical committee?

A: The joint technical committee is an important platform for Singapore and Malaysia to meet and discuss outstanding matters related to the ICJ’s judgment on Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge.