SINGAPORE : Malaysia's dispute over Singapore's land reclamation
in and around the Straits of Johor has been fully resolved and
brought to a close.
The Malaysian and Singapore governments signed a Settlement
Agreement at the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday
morning.
The agreement was inked by their two agents - Ambassador-at-Large
Professor Tommy Koh from Singapore and Mr Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak,
Secretary General of the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.
The event was witnessed by their foreign affairs ministers, Mr
George Yeo and Mr Syed Hamid Albar.
With the agreement signed, the two countries said they would apply
to the arbitration tribunal for its terms to constitute the final
award in the matter.
At the height of the dispute in July 2003, Malaysia claimed that
the reclamation off Tuas violated its territorial waters, while the
work off Pulau Tekong was damaging Malaysia's beaches and harming
its fisheries.
So, Malaysia asked for a stop work order and for the matter to go
before arbitration.
When both sides appeared before the International Tribunal of the
Law of the Seas, the tribunal declared on 8th October 2003 that
Singapore could continue its reclamation works at Tuas and Pulau
Tekong.
Both countries said on Tuesday the settlement agreement represented
a full and final resolution of the bilateral dispute over
Singapore's reclamation works around Tuas and Pulau Tekong.
The two governments have approved the agreement, describing it as a
fair and balanced outcome reached amicably through a series of
negotiations.
The Settlement Agreement comes into effect on Tuesday.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Singapore's Foreign Minister
George Yeo said, "The civil and civilised manner in which we have
been able to settle this dispute gives us confidence that our
bilateral disputes can be settled in the same way. As neighbours,
it is inevitable that bilateral disputes should arise from time to
time."
"We have demonstrated in this case and in the Pedra Branca case
that where there is an impasse, rather than let our bilateral
relations be held hostage to the dispute, we are prepared to have
the matter referred to third party adjudication or arbitration. As
good neighbours, we can overcome such disputes on the basis of
mutual benefit and mutual respect."
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said: "I consider this
as a milestone in Malaysia-Singapore relations. It shows very
clearly that our collaboration over more than a year to bring a
satisfactory conclusion to an issue of great importance to our two
countries."
"Despite our initial differences over the reclamation activities
around the Straits of Johor, now we have found that there is
nothing impossible if we put our hearts and minds together to find
a resolution."
Among the key decisions reached:
A lump sum of 374,000 Malaysian ringgit will be paid by Singapore
to Malaysia as compensation for the fishermen who face losses as a
result of the reclamation works. This means each fisherman will
receive 5,200 Malaysian ringgit.
Singapore has reassured Malaysia that the safe and smooth passage
of ships will not be adversely affected through Kuala Johor and
Calder Harbour after the Pulau Tekong reclamation.
Singapore will also modify the final design of the shoreline of its
reclamation at the Pulau Tekong area. - CNA /ch
