After 18 years, Kadir’s search for letter still goes on by Choi Tuck Wo
The Hague - It’s been 18 years, and ambassador-at-large Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad is still searching for a crucial letter that could have helped to shed light on sovereignty involving Pulau Batu Puteh. But, like a missing jigsaw puzzle, that letter remained elusive, even to the day when the Pulau Batu Puteh case came up for a decision here on Saturday. Kadir, the Prime Minister’s adviser on Foreign Affairs who was Wisma Putra secretary-general at one time, spoke of his frustration at not being able to find the letter. “It was a time-consuming process. We went to all places to get the letter. “We found volumes and volumes of other evidence but this one (letter), we could not find,” Kadir said in an interview. The letter is said to be from the British governor in Butterworth to the Johor Temenggong seeking permission to build the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh. Kadir said they had in possession the reply from the Johor Sultan (in 1884) granting the approval. During the ICJ proceedings, Malaysia had submitted that there was an important letter from the British requesting permission from the Johor Sultanate to build the lighthouse on the island. Kadir said they had dug into numerous archives and old journals and pored over millions of pages of documents as part of the research. “We followed each lead and checked its history, for instance, the lighthouse and other crucial evidence,” he said. On how his involvement in the case had affected his life, Kadir said he could remember almost any letter or document as “it has become part of my brain.” Although the burden is over, a lot more work needs to be carried out with respect to the court’s decision. The 28-year dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over the ownership of Pulau Batu Puteh is over with the ICJ awarding sovereignty to Singapore. However, the court awarded ownership of Middle Rocks, a group of rocks located 0.6 nautical miles (1.1km) south of Pulau Batu Puteh, or Pedra Branca as it is known in Singapore, to Malaysia. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Century still upbeat about oil logistics ops by Sharidan M. Ali
Century Logistics Holdings Bhd expects its oil logistics services to still contribute about 37% of revenue despite two of its six floating storage units being due for dry-docking for two months this year. “This is due to the current high oil price that will have a positive impact on our business, as shipment of oil is projected to increase,” deputy managing director Dr Mohamed Amin Kassim told StarBiz. “This year, we expect to handle 28 million tonnes of fuel oil, up 16.7% against last year's total throughput.” In the financial year ended Dec 31, 2007, Century Logistics recorded a net profit of RM20.7mil from a revenue of RM161mil. The company currently provides the ship-to-ship oil transfer via very large crude carriers (VLCCs) off Pasir Gudang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas. Century Logistics, which has a licence to provide oil logistics services on floating storage units (FSUs), has teamed up with the VLCC owners to provide the service to oil traders. Three of the six VLCCs are operated by Titan Oil Pte Ltd, a Singapore-incorporated holding company with a stake in the Hong Kong-listed Titan Petrochemicals group. Century Logistics has forged a smart partnership agreement whereby Titan operates as an oil trader as well as owner of the three VLCCs. The remaining three FSUs are operated by other oil traders. On whether Malaysia's decreasing exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) goods to the US would impact its business, Mohamed Amin said Century Logistics was not affected as it had focused on niche markets such as Syria and the Middle East. “We are also finalising other supply chain contracts with a renowned company in Africa,” he said. Century Logistics provides seamless supply chain management solutions, as many multinational manufacturers have started to realise the importance of outsourcing their non-core activities. This also involves the procurement and assembly of different kinds of products such as refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, plasma televisions, air-conditioners, washing machines and other electrical appliances. Currently, it has a production capacity of 25,000 units per month. On the proposal to sell its property in Port Klang to MapletreeLog (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd for RM32mil cash, Mohamed Amin said an exceptional gain of RM5.7mil would be reflected in Century Logistics' results for the first quarter ended March 31. “This is after paying about RM16mil to service loans,” he said, adding that the company had paid term loans of RM17.5mil this month. He said this had resulted in a reduced gearing of 0.1 time against 0.65 time last year. Mohamed Amin said by selling the property to a real estate investment trust, the company would also be able to realise profit and return on investment faster. “We are still the logistics operator of the disposed property that includes warehouses but our customers now have to pay the rental fees to MapletreeLog. “The disposal will not affect our warehousing operations as we continue to serve our long-term warehousing clients (even those using the disposed property) with our logistics services,” he said. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

The Chinese threat in the Indian Ocean by Srikanth Kondapalli
Google Earth's pictures of a new strategic submarine base in Hainan Province of China alerted several countries, including India, on the upcoming security challenges in 21st century. The pictures and news about the Type 094 'Jin' submarine are not new, however. From at least late 1990s and more concretely from 2004, these developments have been reported widely, including the three tests of 8,000 km range, solid-propellant and MIRV-ed Julang 2 submarine launched ballistic missile and the building of infrastructure at Sanya. Also, it was widely reported that the all-powerful military body, the Central Military Commission decided in 1999 that the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine patrols be made a matter of routine in the early 21st century. However, as the only other SSBN, the Xia-class, is reportedly docked frequently at homeports, and as the Jin SSBN development prolonged due to cost and time overruns, in addition to technological challenges, this patrolling could not be enforced so far. At a cursory look, the development of a new strategic submarine by China appear to be of marginal impact on India as Sanya base is far away from Indian shores and as such ground-based missiles in China could be deployed in the event of skirmishes between the two rising countries in Asia. Besides, the avowed aim in developing the new Jin SSBN is not to target India but the United States, in the Chinese quest to become a great power in the world. However, as the Cabinet Committee on Security is seized with the matter and is to hold a session, counter-measures are expected to be unveiled in the near future. Primary considerations appear to be four, viz., deployment of the new SSBN in a futuristic scenario of South Asian nuclear conflict; positioning of the SSBN in Indian Ocean with the intent of controlling the Straits of Malacca's; Chinese inroads into the Indian Ocean through the "string of pearls" concept; and SLBM deployment in anti-satellite missions. To counter these challenges, current Indian options point towards matching China with a similar indigenous platform, leasing such vessels from Russia [Images] (as India did in the 1980s and 1990s), or collaborating with the United States on such projects. A fourth option of concluding a nuclear de-targeting agreement with China is currently unavailable due to the intransigent attitude of the Chinese government, which signed such an agreement with Russia during the visit of then President Boris Yeltsin in 1994, while preferring to sign a 'non-targeting' nuclear agreement with President Bill Clinton [Images] in 1998. This indicates to the upcoming arms race between China, India (to be followed by Pakistan).The significance of the Jin SSBN is in its ability to provide credible second strike capability for China, which the previous version, the Xia-class of SSBN was only able to provide notionally at best. It is believed that in the India-China match-up, while India enjoys conventional superiority, China has an overwhelming strategic superiority over India. With an estimated 50 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and thousands of other series of missiles, China clearly has an edge over India, while the latter needs ages to bridge the gap. The test of Agni-III could provide some succour but only marginally. A few years ago the ministry of defence, in its annual reports, estimated that several (possibly 50-60) Indian cities are targeted from Greater Tibet [Images] areas in China. The Jin SSBN provides China with another route to counter India -- through the Indian Ocean. The Chinese submarine activity, however, is not new. While the Ming Dynasty expeditions through the Indian Ocean in the 15th Century to African shores was a surface vessel activity, accounts in the official history of the Indian Navy mention about the Soviet-supplied Romeo-class submarines surfacing in the Bay of Bengal during the 1962 skirmishes between the two countries. However, in those times, war was not multidimensional but confined to the ground forces. 21st Century warfare trends increasingly exhibit full-spectrum and multi-dimensional engagements (on land, sea, air, space, electromagnetic spectrums). Jin SSBN entry in the Chinese inventory could provide China with several options. China's conventional submarines reportedly visited Bay of Bengal for testing marine temperature parameters useful for combat times. As such the submarine activity of China was enhanced in the last decade with significant achievements. Despite the crash of the Ming-class submarine No. 361 at Neichangshan in 2003 killing 70 sailors, China's submarine build-up is the largest in Asia today. Currently China has more than 50 submarines -- a majority of them Romeo-class (under decommissioning process), Ming, Song, 4 Han-class nuclear attack and one Xia-class SSBN. In addition, China acquired Kilo-class submarines from Russia -- with an estimate of about 18 in all joining the Chinese inventory by the next decade. Yuan class submarines are expected to be operationalised by the Chinese Navy in the near future. More importantly, China builds on its own at least one submarine a year in several of its shipyards at Shanghai, Wuhan, Huludao and other places. These indigenous efforts contribute to China's strategic autonomy. China, however, is also in the process of upgrading the equipment and systems of these vessels through imports from Russia, Israel, France [Images], Italy [Images], US and other countries. Qualitatively, areas of improvements in submarine technology and functioning included enhancing endurance levels, firepower, production of specialized steel following reports of leakages, welding technologies, propulsion system, sonars, fire-control and acoustic suppression. The anti-submarine warfare capability of China was also enhanced with French support through Super Frelon helicopters and its variants and Ka-series of helicopters from Russia. Certain recent submarine activities of China indicate its forays into the high seas. However, the initial efforts were largely dubbed as a part of the "learning curve'. In October 1994, for instance, when the USS Kittyhawk's S-3 antisubmarine aircraft tracked China's Han-class SSN through sonobuoys in the Yellow Sea, and despite scrambling of two Chinese J-6 aircraft from the Qingdao naval bases, the Chinese Navy finally backed out. Later, in a decade's time, the Chinese navy inflicted a "sweet revenge" on the US when the Song-class submarine followed, without detection, the USS Kittyhawk in October 2006. The Chinese submarine activity in the Sea of Japan [Images] was stepped up as 'research' activities till the flare up between China and Japan when the Chinese Han-class nuclear submarine, which intruded into Japanese controlled areas in late 2004. The intention appeared to master submarine routes into the Pacific. The Chinese government reportedly apologised to the Japanese government for the first time in its history after Empress Dowager Cixi in late 19th century. These are pointers towards India as well in near future. Srikanth Kondapalli is the author of China's Naval Power, 2001. He is Chairman of Centre for East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. © 2008 Rediff.com India Limited.

Close call likely in ICJ verdict by Choi Tuck Wo
The Hague - Several scenarios are possible when the International Court of Justice gives its ruling on Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge on Friday. While Malaysia is optimistic of getting all three, the outcome could also be a win-win situation. “If Pulau Batu Puteh goes to Malaysia, we’ll probably get all three since historically the other two are part of one feature,” said one source. “But if Singapore were to be awarded Pulau Batu Puteh, the other two – both marine features – may go to Malaysia.” Another possibility could be even if the ruling favours Malaysia, Singpore might get to maintain the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh. The source said it would be a close call, unlike the Sipadan/ Ligitan verdict in 2002, which Malaysia won by a 16-1 majority over Indonesia. “It could be a simple majority, although a big margin does imply the strength of our arguments on the case,” he added. The International Court of Justice is scheduled to deliver its judgment at 4pm (Malaysian time) Friday, ending a long-standing territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore. Expectations are high that the 17-member bench headed by vice-president judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh will rule in favour of Malaysia. The source added that Malaysia had presented a compelling case to the court during the hearing between Nov 16 and 23 last year. He said the legal team had prepared the best possible arguments based on extensive research by over 50 experts in 12 countries spanning nearly three decades. Malaysia has set up a secretariat at the Kurhaus Hotel where the official delegation led by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim is staying. Pulau Batu Puteh – no larger than half a football field – is about 7.7 nautical miles from Tanjung Penyusop in Johor and 25.5 nautical miles from Singapore. Middle Rocks is about half a nautical mile from Pulau Batu Puteh and 1.7 nautical miles from South Ledge. During the submissions, Malaysia had refuted Singapore’s claim that the island was no man’s land when Britain took possession of it between 1847 and 1851. Malaysia had maintained that Johor had the original title to Pulau Batu Puteh since time immemorial and that Britain had sought Johor’s permission to build the Horsburgh Lighthouse there. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Cooperation in Asia paying off in fight against maritime piracy by Steve Herman
Unprecedented cooperation among Asian government maritime authorities is beginning to pay off, with serious acts of piracy declining in part of the region. But, as VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from Nalaguraidhoo, Maldives, officials agree that more needs to be done as maritime attacks increase in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere. Pirates have plied the world's seas for thousands of years. Their modern-day counterparts continue to rob and kill. They have added a new twist - seizing ships not for cargo or money, but to take the vessels themselves for their own purposes, such as smuggling or possibly terrorism. These so-called phantom ship incidents began escalating in the 1990's. Nicholas Teo is the deputy director of the Information Sharing Center of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, known as ReCAAP. "You had pirate people coming on board, tying up the captain and the ship is left underway, making way without a proper watch-keeper," he noted. "And, the crew were usually all be left in a lifeboat or have been thrown overboard and up to today some of the crew has never been found." ReCAAP, initiated by Japan and greatly funded by Singapore, is endorsed by 14 countries. It came into force in September, 2006. Unprecedented sea and air patrols by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in the Strait of Malacca, a busy global shipping choke point, have led to Southeast Asia no longer being regarded as the world's most dangerous piracy zone. ReCAAP Deputy Director Teo says data sharing among Asian militaries and maritime law enforcement agencies has also made a difference. "That also gives the reasons for certain actions to be carried out, particularly in law enforcement and preventative actions," he added. As a result, the region has seen a downward trend in pirate attacks over the last five-year period. Although the situation in Southeast Asia has improved, the number of violent boardings of commercial vessels and pleasure craft is increasing elsewhere, notably in the Horn of Africa. Nine of the Indian Ocean states have sent officials to a conference (of the South Asia Port Security Cooperative) being held on a resort atoll in the Maldives, to discuss how to work together. There is no serious talk yet of joint patrolling of the Indian Ocean, as in Southeast Asia. The tensions among some of the neighbors in this region make such cooperation more difficult to accomplish. India and Pakistan have fought each other three times, in the past 60 years. India helped Bangladesh win independence from Pakistan. The chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, Commodore Muhammed Farooque of the Bangladesh Navy, says his forces are doing their best. "I don't think we have enough of a mechanism where we can immediately warn our counterparts over there," he said. "We have always, at least, two or three vessels out at sea - one carrying out inner patrol, the other carrying out outer patrol, extending to about 50 or 60 nautical miles from the coast. So it's very well taken care of." Bangladesh says Chittagong is unfairly portrayed as among the world's most pirate-infested port. The commodore says minor thefts are too often reported as acts of piracy. The port and shipping industries have taken their own security measures and are also here, at the Maldives conference, to talk about how they can work with government agencies to make the seas safer. EJ Mathews is corporate security manager for DP World - the world's largest port operator, which is headquartered in Dubai. "We need to look beyond economic interests or strategic interests," he said. "We need to forge a common front against the common enemy that we have." The International Maritime Bureau says Nigeria has replaced Indonesia as the world's piracy hot spot. The African country's oil industry has become a lucrative target. The IMB reports Nigeria accounted for 10 of the 49 attacks registered, worldwide, in the first quarter of this year. © 2008 voanews.com. .

Commercial ship price may stabilise by 2012 by Sharidan M. Ali
The price of new commercial ships is forecast to be on the uptrend until 2012 before stabilising, said Malaysian Shipowners Association (Masa) chairman Nordin Mat Yusoff. “By then, the euphoria of new shipbuilding prompted by the explosion of freight rates in 2004 would have subsided,” he told StarBiz. “Also, the International Maritime Organisation's deadline requirement for double-hull tankers, that is effective 2010 and has made ship owners build new tankers, should be over by 2012.” Increasing prices of raw materials, especially steel, is one of the reasons for the rising cost of new ships. He said shipyards had raised prices for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), the biggest type of oil tanker, by nearly 100% since 2004 to an all-time high of about US$150mil per VLCC now. “The prices of bulk carriers that move iron ore and coal have increased by about 50% while prices of other types of ships, including liquefied natural gas vessels and containerships, have also recorded significant increases since 2004,” he noted. Nordin said ship owners welcomed the recent initiatives made by major shipyards to adopt new technology and techniques in shipbuilding aimed at keeping the prices down, shortening delivery time and improving ship designs. “Leading shipyards in South Korea and China have been innovative in developing new construction methods such as on-land ship construction and ship launching system. “This has contributed to better ship delivery time as well as improved yard capacity,” said Nordin, a naval architect by training and vice-president (fleet management) of MISC Bhd. South Korean shipyards have developed a method in shipbuilding that allows them to build ships larger than their dock sizes. They have also successfully developed the mega block method for ship construction, which reduces the number of steel blocks by as high as 10 times, a process that speeds up the construction of ships. Shipyards in Asia, notably in South Korea, China and Japan, now account for about 85% of the global shipbuilding market, with the remaining percentage shared by shipyards in Europe, which ruled the market in the 1960s. South Korea, which rose to dominate the shipbuilding market in the 1990s, and China, which only emerged as a major player in the last seven years, has an equal share of 40% each. Meanwhile, the share of Japanese shipyards, which controlled the world market up to the 1990s, is now down to 5%. Nordin said Masa would organise the 5th Asia Maritime and Logistics Conference and Exhibition 2008 in Kuala Lumpur on June 24 and 25 to discuss some of the issues related to the shipbuilding industry. Masa, which has invited Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to officiate at the event, expects about 350 participants from some 30 countries to attend the conference. Discussions on shipbuilding and technology will be led by Association of Marine Industries Malaysia president Datuk Seri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor, who will also give an overview of the development in the shipbuilding industry. A related presentation would be made by Geir Dugstad from Det Norske Veritas, a leading ship classification society, who will present findings of investigations into the flaws and shortcomings in ship designs and structural failures. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

D-Day in fight for Batu Puteh
The International Court of Justice will deliver its verdict on Pulau Batu Puteh tomorrow, bringing to a close a 28-year-old dispute over the small island some 40km east of Singapore and home to Hosburgh Lighthouse. Malaysians can watch the International Court of Justice deliver its verdict on the dispute live on RTM1 Friday. The live telecast, which will begin at 4pm and is expected to last for about two hours, will give Malaysians a chance to see for themselves what was happening instead of getting the information from foreign channels, said the Information Ministry. Singapore and Malaysia will also form a joint technical committee to implement the court’s decision on Pulau Batu Puteh. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said the committee was necessary to help during the transition before the island is taken over by the nation the court finds for. It would be headed by the secretary-general of the foreign ministry of the two countries. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier briefed MPs on Malaysia’s claim to Pulau Batu Puteh. The Prime Minister was confident of a good decision, said Rais. He added that whatever the outcome might be, Malaysia would accept the court’s decision and bilateral relations between the two countries would not be affected. He also advised Malaysians against organising demonstrations or issuing statements that may affect relations with Singapore should the decision go against Malaysia. Background information on the case, including all the pleadings, oral and written, can be found at the Foreign Ministry website at www.kln.gov.my/pbp-icj. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Destination makes Europe its next target by Sharidan M. Ali
Destination Marine Services Sdn Bhd, a shipbuilder specialising in fast paramilitary boats, forecasts a 150% jump in revenue to RM50mil this year. Executive director Rosli Rashid said the projection was based on its swelling order book and its venture into building pleasure craft for the European market this year. “We are bidding for shipbuilding contracts worth RM74mil in the local and international markets. “Our current order book stands at RM194mil. All the secured shipbuilding contracts are for fast paramilitary boats,” he told StarBiz. Destination Marine's current shipbuilding contracts are for the Royal Malaysian Customs, India Customs and the Royal Saudi Navy. “We have also embarked on a collaboration with ERAF Industrial Co based in Saudi Arabia to set up its own shipyard there. We will be training their workforce in Malaysia,” he said. The collaboration with ERAF is expected to open more doors for the company to penetrate the Middle Eastern market. Besides shipbuilding, Destination Marine also offers ship repair services that bring in revenue of between RM8mil and RM10mil annually. On its luxury boats venture, Rosli said the company had appointed Euro Shipyard, which is based in the Netherlands, to do a study on the types of pleasure vessels that were viable to be marketed in Europe. “Based on the study, we are advised to construct 72m motored yachts for the European market. This size of pleasure craft is forecast to have huge demand there, as there are already too many shipyards building the 42m to 47m yachts,” he said. Previously, the company marketed luxury boats ranging from 32 to 46 metres. Rosli said the 72m yachts would also provide a better profit margin although they required the same expertise and carpentry works in building a smaller craft. “Our selling price for a 72m yacht is estimated at 2.3 million euros, below the current European market price of three million euros. “Taking into consideration our building cost and Europe's shipbroker margin of about 25%, we will still make profit and market our yachts at a competitive price,” he said. Rosli said Destination Marine had tied up with Fadara Shipyard Sdn Bhd, an expert in building luxurious interiors for yachts. “Fadara has established itself in Europe and its quality of craftsmanship is comparable to world-class shipyards,” he said. Currently, the company has absorbed 40 skilled workers from Fadara at its yard. In preparing to build bigger yachts, Rosli said Destination Marine would upgrade its yard, scheduled to be completed within one year. The company has two shipyards located on a seven-acre site in Port Klang and two acres in Johor Baru. “We will improve our slipway's weight capacity to 300 tonnes from the current 100 tonnes and length capacity to 45m from the current 24m. “We have allocated RM4mil to RM5mil for the expansion plan,” he said. Rosli said Destination Marine aimed to build its brand in the international luxury yacht industry. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

Don’t go to Middle Rocks yet, police warn Malaysians
Johor Baru - Malaysians are still not allowed to go to Middle Rocks. Federal Marine Police commander Senior Asst Comm II Isa Munir said the decision whether to allow people to go there had yet to be made. “We have to wait for the decision by the Government and I am not sure when it will be made,” he told The Star yesterday. SAC II Isa added that Malaysia and Singapore had to resolve several issues over Middle Rocks before people could have access there. “Among these are the boundaries and territorial waters of the two countries. “I strongly advise the public to avoid any unwanted tension with Singapore by going there.” On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over the disputed Pulau Batu Puteh or Pedra Branca, while Malaysia owned Middle Rocks. On the other disputed territory of South Ledge, the ICJ ruled that it belonged to the country in whose territorial waters the rocky outcrop was located. The ICJ decision brought to a close the 28-year-old territorial dispute between both countries, and was immediately described as a “win-win” outcome by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who led the Malaysian side at The Hague where the court is located. Singapore said it was pleased with the judgment although it was not totally in its favour. Both countries pledged to abide by the decision of the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whose decision is final and not subject to appeal. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

Expert: natural resources in territorial waters now Singapore’s
Kuala Lumpur - The International Court of Justice decision on Pulau Batu Puteh means that all natural resources and minerals in the territorial waters will now belong to Singapore. Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) director-general Datuk Cheah Kong Wai said under the Law of the Sea, a country’s territorial waters stretched 12 nautical miles (22.2km) from its shores or any piece of land. “This is why I personally view the 12-4 decision in favour of Singapore by the ICJ as disappointing as the judgment clearly means that Malaysia has no more sovereignty of the waters there,” he said when contacted yesterday. Although he said he had not been following the case closely, he added that the 15-1 decision to accord the sovereignty of Middle Rocks to Malaysia was a fair and a “win-win” verdict. On the court's decision on South Ledge, Cheah said its sovereignty, which would depend on whose territorial waters it was located in, would have to be determined through negotiation between Malaysia and Singapore. He said South Ledge was close to Malaysia's Middle Rocks and Singapore's Pulau Batu Puteh and that would cause an overlap of territorial waters. “In such cases, the territorial waters would have to be re-drawn taking into consideration the overlap,” he said. Similarly, Cheah added that Pulau Batu Puteh and Middle Rocks were also close by which could possibly result in another re-draw of the territorial waters boundary between the two islands. He said South Ledge was only visible during low tide and could not be considered as a piece of land. “That is why the decision by the ICJ was rather vague when it came to this,” he said. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

4 possible outcomes when ICJ delivers decision on Pedra Branca on Friday by Asha Popatlal
Singapore - The longstanding dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over Pedra Branca, known in Malaysia as Pulau Batu Puteh, will have closure this Friday. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its decision on which country has sovereignty over the island and its rocky outcrops, Middle Rocks and South Ledge. The dispute arose when Malaysia published its new map in 1979 of its territories, which included Pedra Branca. Singapore disagreed with it because it said it owns the island. Pedra Branca has remained a thorn in bilateral ties. In 1993, the prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia decided to refer the case to the International Court of Justice. After three rounds of written pleadings, both sides presented their cases in open court last November. According to Singapore's Agent to the Court, Professor Tommy Koh, four possible outcomes are likely on Friday. First outcome: Singapore is awarded sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and Southern Ledge. Second outcome: Malaysia is awarded sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and Southern Ledge. Third outcome: A split decision, which means that Singapore gets Pedra Branca, the most important feature, while Malaysia gets Middle Rocks and South Ledge. Fourth outcome: Another split decision, but this time Malaysia gets Pedra Branca, and Singapore gets Middle Rocks and South Ledge. If full sovereignty goes to Singapore, it will be primarily a maintaining of the status quo, according to Professor Koh. If full sovereignty goes to Malaysia, there will definitely be a change, though it was argued that this would be a win-win situation as it would continue to allow Singapore to maintain the lighthouse. Professor Koh said: "We no longer have the right to protect the island through our Navy and Marine Police. So although we may still be the lighthouse operator, the security of the island falls on Malaysia." No matter what the outcome, both sides have said they will accept and abide by ICJ's decision and that it will not have an adverse impact on bilateral ties. And as for the Singapore team's outlook, Professor Koh said: "Being a natural born optimist, I am optimistic, but I am not arrogant or presumptuous because the court could decide in any one of the four ways. "I hope no matter what the outcome is - that both sides will take inspiration from this process and will see this as a possible precedent which could be used to settle bilateral disputes." A joint committee from both countries will meet after the judgement to work out how to implement the final decision. © 2008 MediaCorp Pte Ltd.

High seas piracy a growing threat
"The United States is very concerned about the increasing number of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, especially off the Somali coast," according to the U.S. Department of State. Piracy and armed robbery have disrupted trade in east Africa and threatened the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Somali people. According to the International Maritime Bureau, there thirty-one ships were hijacked off the coast of Somalia last year, up from just two hijackings in 2004. This year alone, pirates have attacked everything from oil tankers to luxury yachts in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates recently seized Spanish and French ships off the coast of Somalia and held their crews hostage. The pirates released the crewmen after being paid ransoms reported at over one million dollars. In February, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia requested U.N. assistance in fighting the scourge of piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia. As a result, the United States and France presented a draft resolution at the United Nations that would provide U.N. blessing to an aggressive campaign against pirates. The resolution would encourage countries to use, "all necessary means to identify, prevent, and repress actions of piracy and armed robbery." While the Straits of Malacca in Asia have long been notorious for piracy, today the world’s biggest hotspots for piracy and armed robbery at sea are located in Africa. Using speedboats, and armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the pirates’ attacks have become bolder and more frequent. Piracy in the Straits of Malacca has declined as a result of significant international cooperation. Strong international cooperation will also be required to address piracy off the coast of Somalia, and the UN resolution is intended to facilitate this cooperation. The draft UN resolution would authorize member states to engage in "boarding, searching, and seizing vessels engaged in or suspected of engaging in acts of piracy or armed robbery." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad says that "With the authority of the Security Council, the prospect for greater help and activity to deal with this problem, which has grown and has become more urgent, will obviously improve." [An editorial reflecting the views of the US Government]. © 2008 Voice of America.

ICJ to decide on May 23 sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh by Nor Faridah Rashid, BERNAMA
Kuala Lumpur - Six months after the end of the hearing of oral submissions over the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to decide which country - Malaysia or Singapore — should have sovereignty over the disputed island and the two marine features. The ICJ, which is based at The Hague in the Netherlands, will give its verdict on May 23, bringing to a close a 28-year-old territorial dispute over the island and the two features. The court heard lengthy submissions from both countries from Nov 6 to 23 last year. Malaysia and Singapore had pledged to abide by the decision of the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whose decision is final and not subject to appeal. Both the Malaysian foreign minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, and his Singapore counterpart, George Yeo, had said the outcome of the case would not strain ties between the two neighbours. © 2008 NST Online.

India, Malaysia hold joint naval exercise
Kuala Lumpur - India and Malaysia today held a joint naval exercise here marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, with Navy vessels from the two countries staging live-fire drills. Usually live firing is not part of a joint passage exercise but the fact that Indian naval ships INS Kora and INS Kirpan and Malaysian Royal Navy's KD Amin and KD Nadim staged the drill shows the close friendship and strong maritime ties between the two countries, official sources told PTI. Both the Indian ships are missile corvettes which arrived in Malaysia on April 29. The joint exercise is being held on the waters of Malacca Straits and on its conclusion INS Kora and INS Kirpan will head to Port Blair. The two Indian ships were docked at the Royal Malaysian Naval Base at Lumut in Perak State. Exchange of goodwill visits by naval ships of India and Malaysia to each other's ports has traditionally been an important component of friendly relations between the two countries, the sources added. During the visit, the personnel of Indian Navy also held professional interactions and sports exchanges with their counterparts in the Royal Malaysian Navy. They undertook community service at Sekolah Semangat Maju, Setiawan -- a school for special children. © 2008 Press Trust of India.

Keep off Middle Rocks by Mazwin Nik Anis & Farik Zolkepli
Putrajaya - Fishermen should stay away from Middle Rocks for the next few weeks while “technical matters” are sorted out, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. He said that despite the International Court of Justice ruling on Friday, there were still issues to be ironed before Malaysians were free to go to the rock outcrop located near Pulau Batu Puteh. “There is no doubt that Middle Rocks belongs to us now but my advice is for the people to wait for the time being, while the technical committee looks into this,” he told reporters after launching the Unity month at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday. On Friday, the ICJ decided that Singapore had ownership of Pulau Batu Puteh, called Pedra Branca by Singapore, while Malaysia had sovereignty over Middle Rocks which lies to the south. The ICJ left the question of sovereignty over South Ledge, another rock outcrop south of Pulau Batu Puteh, to be determined by the two countries later. Najib was asked to comment on differing views reported by the media on whether the public was free to visit Middle Rocks following the ICJ ruling. Federal Marine Police commander Senior Asst Comm II Isa Munir had said a decision had yet to be made whether to allow Malaysians to go there while an academician was quoted to have said local fishermen could now operate freely in the waters off Middle Rocks. Prof Nik Anuar Nik Mahmud of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the navy and marine police could now patrol the area without hindrance and the air force would also have access in the airspace. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar also ruled out sending enforcement agencies to patrol the area in Middle Rocks. “Let us not take an aggressive posture by sending the agencies. “It is clear that Middle Rocks is ours and we have an interest to protect. “However, both countries must work out the best way possible to create an understanding,” he told pressmen after launching the Kota Tinggi parliamentary constituency Gerak Gempur Dadah programme yesterday. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd. .

Land bridge key to restoring peace in restive South
Bangkok - The land bridge project is considered a key to restoring peace in Thailand's three southernmost border provinces, according to Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. United Arab Emirates-based Dubai World has offered grant assistance for a feasibility study regarding development of a logistics network and the land bridge project in Thailand. He expressed confidence that the proposed land bridge project under which deep-sea ports as well as communication and transport networks would be built to link the Andaman seacoast and the Gulf of Thailand in order to help create jobs in southern Thailand. In particular, the violence-plagued three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat would benefit directly from rising employment and economic development. The sultan said he believed it would help reduce the continuing violence in the Muslim-majority South. "In the past, our company had experiences in developing projects in many conflict-impacted areas. We found that local residents are not easily lured to violence if they have jobs and enjoy higher incomes. "In our view, building economic stability is a key to creating political stability," he said. The Dubai World executive stated the land bridge project would also help link the communication and transport networks between Western Asia and East Asia where key economies including China, Japan, and South Korea are located. He said 90 per cent of all products placed for sale in the world now are now produced in China. Should the project be successfully implemented in Thailand, it could serve as a convenient transport route for products to be shipped to key markets in West Asia, including India and Middle East countries. At present, such products must be shipped through the Straits of Malacca, which is time consuming, he said. The cabinet on Tuesday approved the Transport Ministry's signing of a memorandum of understanding on allowing Dubai World to study a feasibility of building the land bridge project. Deputy Government Spokesman Nattavuth Sai-kua said the company submitted a written intention with the ministry on November 15, 2007 to offer grant assistance for a study of a proper approach to developing ports in the Andaman seacoast and a bridge to link them with ports in the Gulf of Thailand or known as the land bridge project. Under the plan, the company would invest in all aspects to study the potential of the project and the feasibility of investment. On completion of the study, the government could use the findings to inform other potential construction players without having to consult with Dubai World. Thailand could proceed with a plan to open bids on the project without any conditions set by the firm, he said. Whether the company would decide to invest in the project depends on its study on details of investment budget, port management, location, and economic benefits it would get. © 2008 Thai News Agency. .

Long wait for verdict on island by Gladys Tay
Johor Baru - Fishermen in Pengerang are keeping their fingers crossed that the Pulau Batu Puteh verdict will be in Malaysia's favour. The 1,500-strong fishing community cannot curb their impatience to return to the sea there, which is abundant with marine life. They have been prevented from fishing in the area for the past 20 years due to Malaysia and Singapore's overlapping claims on the island. Pengerang Fishermen's Association chairman Abu Bakar Mohamad said if the verdict goes Malaysia's way, the fishermen's livelihood would be uplifted. “The area has remained untouched for many years and the amount of marine life available there is significant,” he said, adding that the waters off the island were rich in mackerel, pomfret and grouper fish. Abu Bakar said that with the increased number of members, a larger zone was needed to support increasing demand for seafood. He said fishermen who encroached near the island in the past were chased away by the Singapore marine police stationed there. “We will be following the International Court of Justice's decision closely,” he added. It is learnt that the Johor Fisheries Department advised fishermen during a briefing yesterday that they should accept whatever verdict calmly. RTM will telecast live the ICJ's decision from The Hague at 4pm. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Malaysia-Indonesia maritime dispute remains stalled
Malaysia has ruled out the possibility of the International Court of Justice helping in negotiations with Indonesia over a disputed oil-rich area on their maritime border. [Presenter: Bo Hill & Speaker: I Made Andi Arsana, lecturer, Department of Geodesy and Geomatic Engineering, Gadjah Mada University]
HILL: In 2004 and 2005 respectively, Indonesia and Malaysia awarded oil and gas exploration licences in the area of sea between Indonesia's East Kalimantan province and Malaysia's Sabah state. In the rush for energy resources, the two growing economies had, however, handed out licences for areas that overlapped. It prompted a military stand-off defused only by leaders Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Susilo Bambang Yudhuyono. They pledged to resolve the dispute peacefully through negotiations. I Made Andi Arsana, a maritime border specialist and lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, says in the three years since there has been a lot of talk but not much resolution.
ARSANA: Indonesia and Malaysia have been conducting years of negotiations - as far as I know it has been more than five times. It's very intensive negotiations, at the very beginning they did it like every three months but then, you know, the frequency is getting lower.
HILL: The talks have stalled, but Malaysian foreign minister Rais Yatim says the two sides have ruled out the use of the International Court of Justice to find a solution. Dr Rais told Malaysian media that for the sake of good relations, the issue will be solved in a cordial manner. Andi Arsana says it is a wise decision not to turn to the ICJ.
ARSANA: In settling international dispute, negotiation is to my opinion, is the best way because in conducting negotiations both parties will have full control to the case, so it means that they can say anything... anything to solve the problem. But if they give this problem or this settlement to the Court of Justice it means they will lose the control.
HILL: Two-party talks also give the neighbours time to study the technicalities of resolving the maritime border dispute. Malaysian foreign minister, Dr Rais, says a joint working group has been formed to conduct the studies, while an independent review will also be commissioned. The list of technicalities to be worked out, however, is long, not withstanding the two other ongoing border disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia as well as others with surrounding neighbours. As maritime border specialist Andi Arsana explains, the list also includes working out the effect of a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling that two previously unowned islands in the area, Sipidan and Ligitan, belonged to Malaysia.
ARSANA: These two islands may potentially generate more maritime area, I mean because it is permitted by international law, that Malaysia will claim more maritime area then it previously did. In conducting negotiations, Indonesia has to acknowledge that also. And then of course we have to agree on all technical requirements. For example, the same nautical chart, because if not we will never agree the same line, the same coordinates, in settling the boundary. And then of course, the second one which is very important for Indonesia, is to provide clear and accurate information to Indonesian people so they are prepared for what happens next.
HILL: There was a rise of anti-Malaysian sentiment in Indonesian media after the two islands were awarded to Malaysia in 2002, and then again after Malaysia issued the oil exploration licence in 2005. It echoed the anti-Malaysian stance of former Indonesian president, Sukarno, in the 1960s. But in more recent times, both Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta have been at pains to emphasis strong bilateral relations and to avoid a repeat of the 2005 stand-off. Mr Arsana says the strong relationship will help.
ARSANA: We have a very similiar cultural background, and we even speak the same language so I think it is a very strong starting point from where we can make negotiation or whatever. I still believe that we have a very, very good relationship. © ABC.

Malaysian air force chief sets strategic focus by Siva Govindasamy
Fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft, rather than fifth-generation fighters remain the Royal Malaysian Air Force's near-term priority, with the service hoping to gradually build up its purchases to form six squadrons by 2025. "To achieve this will require a big budget allocation," says RMAF chief Gen Azizan Ariffin. "Therefore we will be going by phases, and hopefully by 2025 we will have the total required platforms." While types including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-16 could be offered to Malaysia, analysts believe that Kuala Lumpur wants to move to an all-Russian fleet of strike aircraft. The South-East Asian country ordered 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKMs in 2002, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, and although the air force also operates eight F/A-18Ds and 16 RSK MiG-29Ns, the Su-30MKM is the favourite for a new fighter deal. The service could seek funding for a follow-on buy in time for Malaysia's 2011-15 spending plan. Neighbouring Singapore, which has ordered 24 Boeing F-15SGs and now operates South-East Asia's largest fleet of F-16s, could order the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter early next decade, but Malaysia is not about to rush into a decision. "The RMAF will keep abreast with the latest technology and strategic environment in procuring future fighters. If there is requirement to go for a specific role platform, I am sure the RMAF will make a thorough study on those requirements," Azizan told Flight International during the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur late last month. A more immediate priority is the acquisition of airborne early warning and control aircraft, with funding again likely to be sought under the 2011-15 ninth Malaysia plan. "The requirement has been discussed earlier and officially registered during the eighth Malaysia plan, but due to budget constraints, we were not able to launch it," says Azizan. The contenders are likely to be the Embraer EMB-145 and Saab 2000 equipped with Saab Microwave Systems' Erieye radar, and Northrop Grumman's E-2C Hawkeye 2000. Maritime patrol aircraft are also needed as part of Malaysia's commitment to joint surveillance of the Malacca Straits with Indonesia and Singapore. The budget, however, may not stretch to that in the near term. "As a maritime nation, MPA is an imminent requirement," says Azizan. "The budget allocation may not allow for a complete inventory, but we may go by phases, just like the MRCA [fighter] programme." The MPA project will go hand in hand with a navy requirement for anti-submarine warfare helicopters, also likely to be included in the ninth Malaysia plan. The contenders could include the AgustaWestland Super Lynx, Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, Kamov Ka-28, NH Industries NH90 and Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk. "The total platform required is to cater for 24/7 operations between the two theatres of Malaysia," says Azizan. Additional rotorcraft are high on the list of priorities for Malaysia. A competition to replace the Sikorsky S-61 Nuri transport and utility helicopter, which Azizan says has served the armed forces "gallantly for more than 40 years", is imminent. Over 90 armed forces personnel and civilians have died in crashes involving the type since 1968, and calls for their replacement increased after the last incident in 2007. Azizan acknowledges that accidents and the lower number of S-61s in service have increased the maintenance and operating costs of the fleet, and that "the low availability of the Nuri has lowered the RMAF's heliborne readiness". Kuala Lumpur has assessed the AgustaWestland AW101, Eurocopter EC725, Mil Mi-17 and Sikorsky S-92, and a shortlist had been expected early this year. An initial order for 12 aircraft is anticipated, but this could eventually rise to 48. However, a decision has been delayed until late 2008, as the Malaysian cabinet must approve a special budget for the purchase. This is unlikely to happen until the future of prime minister Abdullah Badawi, whose ruling coalition returned to power with a much lower majority and lost several key states to the opposition, has been resolved. While Malaysia has been inducting unmanned air vehicles, it could also begin a study into unmanned combat air vehicles in the future. "This will require further study on its concept and implementation, due to the laws governing the conduct of participants in war," says Azizan. From a broader perspective, the RMAF's modernisation effort will seek to balance "factors including budget constraints, relative comparison, how much is enough [and] those areas in which we are lacking," Azizan says. "Our main areas of focus are towards refining our operational strategies and concepts, equipping the RMAF with high-tech weapons and weapon systems, and of course ensuring the competency and professionalism of our personnel." © Reed Business Information 2008.

Malaysia's Labuan Joins the List of Would-Be Global Offshore Insurance Powers by David Pilla
Oldwick, N.J. - In the flux of a rapidly changing global market in risk mitigation, the concept of the offshore insurance center is evolving as fast as any. The pioneering work of Bermuda in this genre over the past three decades has been well documented. A host of imitators followed, especially in the captive insurance market. With the rise of the Caymans, Vermont, British Virgin Islands, Guernsey and Isle of Man, among many others, those steeped in the arcane art of ART -- alternative risk transfer -- might have wondered if saturation hadn't become their greatest risk. wondered if saturation hadn't become their greatest risk. Not so, it would seem. Rather, the competition is getting more intense, with new offshore challengers rising out of emerging markets. You can credit globalization, or the rise of emerging markets [once known less euphemistically as Third World nations], as the world's money flow shifts dramatically, new locations are poised to tap the waters.
Destination: Malaysia?
The Malaysian island of Labuan is pushing for an international role as an offshore insurance center (along with banking and other industries). To that end, the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority has established Labuan IBFC Inc. to promote the island Labuan as an international business hub. The new organization is expected to begin operations this month. On the insurance side, Labuan's total premiums in 2007 rose 40.3% to $919.2 million (592.4 million euros). LOFSA is particularly eager to point out that non-Malaysian premiums represented 62% of the new business growth last year. Non-Malaysian insurance capital represented 66.5% of the total in 2007, up from 57.6% a year earlier. And as a sign of Labuan's self-described role as a crucial hub for Middle East-Pacific Rim business, retakaful (reinsurance conforming to Islamic principles) contributions to 2007 premiums rose 42.8% to $108.4 million. Coming on the heels of Dubai's successful hosting of the World Insurance Forum in March, Labuan's claim to be the next link in a financial chain spreading from the West through the Persian Gulf may be more than just talk.
The Competition
In the Pacific Rim, Hong Kong and Singapore had long been viewed as the main financial hubs of a region dominated by shipping and manufacturing. Those activities have contributed greatly to the region's growing wealth, just as oil and natural gas boosted the wealth of Persian Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. Financial services naturally follow wealth-producing activities, and as we have seen in the Middle East, as the wealth spreads the competition among rising financial centers ramps up. Singapore is bidding to attract more of the insurance and reinsurance business now eager to gain a foothold in the region. As one of the most important shipping hubs in the Pacific, Singapore's appeal has been largely linked to commercial and marine lines. And like Dubai in the Persian Gulf, Singapore now wants to break out of its narrow act and play to a wider financial audience. As for Hong Kong, the city is traditionally first in mind when anyone things of business and the Pacific Rim. But Hong Kong has been lax in terms of attracting foreign insurance capital, and is now in danger of being eclipsed by its more dynamic parent, the People's Republic of China, which has embraced foreign insurance capital in breathtaking fashion. Hong Kong officials as much as admitted their stumble. The city's insurance commissioner admitted that, since Hong Kong put rules in place to encourage captive formation in 1997, the effort to become a captive hub for the Pacific Rim has languished. The city has only two captives, compared with the 62 registered in Singapore and 32 in Labuan. Labuan's ultimate success as an insurance center is not certain, and will depend largely on the regulatory approach taken by Malaysian officials. But it does appear the island is serious about becoming something like the Pacific Bermuda. © 2008 The Connors Group, Inc.

Maritime disputes in Asia
Singapore owns a rocky outcrop it calls Pedra Branca that is near a key shipping lane, the U.N.'s highest court ruled on Friday, settling a protracted dispute between the Southeast Asian state and its neighbour Malaysia. However, the International Court of Justice also ruled Malaysia has sovereignty of another nearby islet known as Middle Rocks and that a third, called South Ledge, belongs to the state in whose territorial waters it is located. The case could encourage other Asian governments to resolve decades-old maritime disputes in oil-rich waters. Here are facts about some of Asia's maritime disputes.
Pulau Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca - Malaysia and Singapore
The chain of three rocky outcrops is 15 km (10 miles) off peninsular Malaysia's southern coast and set in the Strait of Singapore, which in turn is just off the Malacca Strait. The Malacca Strait a major shipping line that links the Middle East with Asia and carries 40 percent of the world's trade and 80 percent of Japan's energy supplies. The main outcrop, 137 metres by 60 metres, is known as Pulau Batu Puteh in Malaysia and Pedra Branca by Singapore, which has a lighthouse on the island.
Northwest Borneo - Malaysia/Brunei
Malaysia and Brunei said last year they had reached a tentative pact to end a dispute over the ownership of two large oil exploration blocks off the northwest of Borneo in the South China Sea. The row has stopped deepwater exploration in the area. In 2003, Malaysian state-owned Petronas [PETR.UL] awarded deepwater blocks L and M to Murphy Oil. But Brunei awarded a production-sharing contract (PSC) to France's Total for Block J and was negotiating PSC terms with Shell for adjacent Block K. Murphy made a sizeable discovery in a Malaysian block near the disputed area in 2003 and will produce 120,000 barrels per day by the end of 2008 from the Kikeh field, with the light sweet crude oil now trading at a record high.
Greater Sunrise - East Timor/Australia
The Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea are expected to start producing gas by 2012-2014, after a pact by East Timor and Australia to evenly split royalties. The fields are estimated to hold 8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas and up to 300 million barrels of condensate. Greater Sunrise was frozen in 2004 while waiting for Canberra and Dili to resolve their differences over the revenue split. There is still debate on whether to transport the gas to Darwin in northern Australia, process it at sea at an offshore plant, or bring it via pipeline to East Timor for export from an onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. The project involves Woodside, Royal Dutch/Shell and Japan's Osaka Gas Co. Ltd.
Spratly Islands - China/Vietnam/Taiwan/Malaysia/Philippines
The national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a three-year joint-seismic accord in 2005, to cooperatively assess oil and gas deposits. Their proximity to nearby oil and gas-producing fields, discovered in the 1960s, bolstered the belief that they harbour rich untapped reserves of oil and gas. Modern disputes date back to the 1930s, with claims bolstered by references to historical maps and literature. In 1988, China and Vietnam fought a brief naval battle near the Spratly reefs, in which more than 70 Vietnamese sailors died.
Pattani Trough - Thailand/Cambodia
The Gulf of Thailand is already a gas-producing zone but 27,000 sq km (10,430 sq mile) is disputed between Thailand and Cambodia. It involves no territory. Thailand produces natural gas but still relies on imports. Cambodia, which relies on foreign aid, hopes to begin pumping oil from offshore fields in the Gulf of Thailand by 2010.
Japan/China
China's CNOOC Ltd. said in April last year it had begun producing gas at the Tianwaitian field in the East China Sea despite Japan's objections to development. Beijing and Tokyo disagree over the boundary between their exclusive marine economic zones and Japan objects to Chinese development of gas fields near the border, although they are in an undisputed area. Tokyo fears drilling there could inadvertently drain Japanese gas through a honeycomb of seabed rocks. Japan has proposed to jointly develop the Tianwaitian and Chunxiao gas fields, the Yomiuri newspaper said in February, without citing sources. China's state-controlled CNOOC has said it is ready to begin production from the Chunxiao gas field. Estimated net known reserves in the East China Sea total a relatively modest 180 million barrels of oil equivalent, Japan says. © 2008 Thomson Reuters.

MB: Overlapping of rights
Johor Baru - The ruling on disputed Pulau Batu Puteh and Middle Rocks will cause an overlapping of territorial rights due to the close proximity of both islands, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman. He described the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as an “interesting ruling”. He hoped that a technical committee, formed by Malaysia and Singapore over the disputed islands, would convene as soon as possible. “The committee was formed even before the decision was made,’’ he said after launching the Massif design showroom and factory here yesterday. Abdul Ghani said the state government accepted ICJ’s decision. Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urged the Singapore Government to consider the livelihood of Johoreans, especially fishermen, who had been using Pulau Batu Puteh for generations as a stopover when going out to fish. “We hope Singapore understands that this matter is very close to our heart, ” he told Bernama after giving a talk on Umno's code of ethics to the Federal Territory Umno liaison committee yesterday. And in Muar, Johor Umno Youth chief Razali Ibrahim said Malaysia should consider taking over the lighthouse on Pulau Pisang, off Pontian, from Singapore authorities before there is a territorial dispute over the island as the lighthouse has been under Singapore's control since it was built in 1914. “We hope the Government looks into the matter, as the recently-concluded judgment on the sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh has taught us a lesson on territorial claims,” Razali said after opening the Introsjaya Steel Sdn Bhd hardware shop yesterday. Maritime Institute of Malaysia director-general Datuk Cheah Kong Wai clarified that as Pulau Batu Puteh is a rock, it therefore did not generate any maritime zones under Article 121 of the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS). In addition, UNCLOS Article 13 paragraph 2, also provided that islands, under certain conditions, do not generate territorial waters. Therefore, the technicalities need ed to be addressed by the two countries, he said. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Minister hopes CTI meeting to set up world ocean forum
Manado, North Sulawesi - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi expressed optimism that a Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) meeting to be held here in conjunction with the World Ocean Conference in 2009 will result in the formation of a World Ocean Forum and the issuance of a Manado Declaration. "The CTI`s saving program in the coral triangle zone involves six member countries and two observer countries," he said on the sidelines of a coordinative meeting on the Sail Bunaken event here on Wednesday. The Coral Triangle covers all or parts of Indonesia (Central and Eastern), Timor Leste, the Philippines, Malaysia (part of Borneo), Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and the two observer countries are the United States and Australia. Sometimes referred to as the "Amazon of the Seas", it is the epicenter of marine life abundance and diversity on the planet. It has more than 500 species of coral reef and is home to more than 3,000 fish species. The Coral Triangle sustains the lives of over 120 million people and benefits millions more worldwide. The forum would go international due to the importance of saving the seas from many threatening factors, including climate change, overfishing, illegal fishing, unsustainable coastal development and pollution, he added. © 2008 ANTARA.

Najib hands over ship's bell to Britain
Port Klang - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today handed over the bell from the sunken ship, HMS Prince of Wales to the Commanding Officer of the HMS Edinburgh, Commander Gavin Young, for safe passage to Britain. The simple, but meaningful ceremony was held here on board of the HMS Edinburgh, a British, Portsmouth-based type 42 destroyer which is on a routine visit from May 21-26. The ceremony was witnessed by Britain's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Boyd McCleary, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Chief, Admiral Datuk Abdul Aziz Jaafar, and the former chief of the RMN and chief of defence Tan Sri Admiral (Ret) Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor. The bell from the HMS Prince of Wales had been in Malaysia since October 2007 as the main showpiece of the "RelationShips" Project -- an initiative by Malaysia to honour those who lost their lives in the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, off the coast of Kuantan, on Dec 10 1941 by the Japanese forces during the Second World War. The bell will travel on board HMS Edinburgh under the command of Commander Young and it will be returned to its permanent home at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool. According to royal navy traditions, the ship's bell is regarded as the ship's soul and the bell is used for time-keeping, safety and communications, alarms, events and ceremonies. The bell from the HMS Prince of Wales was retrieved from the wreckage in 2002 and resided in the museum. But from October 2007 till December 2007, the bell went for a tour as part of the country's 50th independence celebrations and among others were showcased at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2007) in December last year before making its way to Kuantan for a memorial service. Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said in his speech that the government of Malaysia and the people sincerely appreciated the initiative of the RelationShips Project and the high commission for undertaking this noble gesture. Najib said he was made to understand that the government of Britain had registered the sunken ships as a war grave to be protected from any illegal encroachment. "Likewise I would like to suggest that our Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage takes the initiative to consider this concept and include it in the Malaysian government protected heritage sites," he said. McCleary said that the project was to fullfill two main aims -- to remember, honour and respect those from the two ships who lost their lives, over 800 of them and also to mark the 50 years of close relations between the RMN and the British Royal Navy. Meanwhile in his speech, Commander Young said that the bell was the sole reminder of the contributions and the sacrificies of those who lost their lives in the incident. © 2008 BERNAMA.

Navy commanders conference gets underway
The Naval Commanders' Conference is the highest decision making body of the navy. It meets annually to deliberate upon major operational issues with regard to the defence of the nation's maritime interest, coastal security, defence of national assets at sea, naval strategy, its own operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two service. The conference, this year is being held at the Western Naval Command Headquarters' at Mumbai from 07 to 09 May 08. The conference would be inaugurated by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff and would be attended by the highest echelons of the navy from the Integrated Headquarters at New Delhi, three command headquarters and two fleets. Over the last decade, the maritime security environment in the Indian Ocean Region has become more complex, fluid and significantly more volatile. Along with the nation's economic success and elevation in international stature, the nation's regional responsibilities have also increased. To discharge these, a strong and effective navy is essential. In the coming years, the Indian Navy would be called upon to play a significantly larger role so as to be a regionally relevant force and be in a position to not only counter any existing and identifiable threats but also to discharge its responsibilities of maintaining, safeguarding and furthering our nation's maritime interests including and disaster relief operations. To ensure that the navy remains an operationally focused force, capable of dealing with the challenging environment of the 21st century, surveillance of the seas around us also real time exchange if information through network centric operations assumes greater significance today and these are the primary focus areas of this year's conference. Further, some major platforms in all three dimensions of the navy's operation are scheduled for induction and integration of these platforms and weapon systems into the overall concept of operations assumes significance and the naval commanders would deliberate on these issue as well. © 2008 Press Information Bureau (New Delhi).

Philippines looks to develop disputed island
Manila - A team of marine and eco-tourism experts has begun assessing the potential of transforming a Philippine-occupied island in the contested Spratly Archipelago into a prime tourist hideaway, officials said. In 1978, the Philippine government proclaimed Pag-asa, the largest of nine islands and reefs occupied by Philippine forces, as Kalayaan Township, attached to Palawan Province, to bolster its territorial claim in the potentially oil-rich Spratlys. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also claim part or all of the Spratlys, which have been regarded as a potential flash point for conflict in Asia. The experts, who began their weeklong study Thursday, will study whether Pag-asa could be turned into a diving spot and resort, the township's mayor, Rosendo Mantes, said Sunday. "If you want to leave the noisy world and be nearer to almighty God, then that is your place," Mantes said. Pag-asa, also known as Thitu Island, lies in the South China Sea about 480 kilometers, or 300 miles, west of the western Philippine province of Palawan. Mantes said security should not be a concern for potential tourists, citing past agreements between the Philippines and other claimant countries to avoid trouble and settle any conflict peacefully. The last violent clash in the disputed region, involving China and Vietnam, occurred in 1988. "The crime rate there is zero; it's very peaceful," Mantes said of Pag-asa, the only Philippine-claimed island in the Spratlys populated by civilians. Journalists who traveled to the tropical island aboard an Philippines Air Force plane Friday saw long stretches of fine white sand beach, mostly empty, except for some passing soldiers. Aside from Pag-asa, the smaller islands of Lawak and Likas could be developed for tourism. Lawak is a sanctuary for seagulls and other migratory birds, while Likas is a haven for sea turtles, Mantes said. Other claimant countries, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, have developed islands they control, he said. A key problem is financing, which Mantes said could be provided by private investors. © 2008 the International Herald Tribune.

Proserv allies with Tanjung to enter Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur - Proserv Far East Pte. signed a strategic agreement with Tanjung Offshore Services Sdn Bhd, strengthening the position of Proserv's Abandonment and Decommissioning Strategic Business Unit in the Malaysian oil and gas market. Tanjung Offshore Services Sdn Bhd, a company that provides marine vessels, customized engineered equipment, project management, maintenance and parts and additional support services to oil and gas markets, will be Proserv's agent in Malaysia. Proserv will benefit from having a central Kuala Lumpur base, boosting the company's efforts to expand in the Malaysian market. The agreement is in line with Proserv's goal to create "the world's most comprehensive abandonment and decommissioning company." To facilitate the introduction of its services in the region, Proserv has appointed Mike Urbigkit as general manager for the Kuala Lumpur operations. "The partnership with Tanjung Offshore Services is strategically important for Proserv because it's a company that's well established in the area, and will provide us with a new network of locations," Urbigkit said. "We already have facilities in Australia and Singapore, but the base in Kuala Lumpur will give us a better reach into the large Malaysian market, placing us in a stronger position to serve existing clients and follow up new leads." Commenting on the new agreement, Tanjung Managing Director Omar bin Khalid said, "I am extremely positive about the prospects the partnership will bring. We have targeted a number of projects for Proserv's Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU, and there is considerable interest in its products and services. "Already Proserv has secured one tender and two other projects of interest. With an active business development team in place, I am confident that together, a substantial hub will be established within the next 24 months."

Pulau Batu Puteh: past, present and future by Rais Yatim
A panel of 16 judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) convenes on May 23 in The Hague to deliver judgment on the case of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, a longstanding territorial dispute between Malaysia and Singapore. For generations, Pulau Batu Puteh - roughly half the size of a football field located 7.7 nautical miles off Johor's coast at Tanjong Penyusoh - was a tranquil haven for fishermen plying the surrounding waters. But a claim on the island, which is part of the Johor Sultanate, surfaced three decades ago. It began on Feb 14, 1980, when Singapore protested against the 1979 map published by Malaysia clearly placing Pulau Batu Puteh in our territory. Singapore then expanded its claims to the nearby Middle Rocks and South Ledge in February 1993. On Feb 6, 2003, Malaysia and Singapore signed a special agreement to refer the matter to the ICJ. Malaysia's position is that Pulau Batu Puteh is and has always been part of the state of Johor. We have asserted to the ICJ that nothing has happened to displace our sovereignty over it. Singapore's presence on the island for the sole purpose of constructing and maintaining a lighthouse there - with the permission of the territorial sovereign, Johor - does not displace Malaysia's sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh. Our nation has more than 1,000 islands. Many of them sit in strategically important, resource-rich seas, so territorial disputes are bound to occur for one reason or another. It is unfortunate that Malaysia has had to seek international legal recourse. But it is only when diplomatic and political channels are exhausted that Malaysia refers the dispute to a third party. We have had to exercise this option twice before. A territorial dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan off the coast of Sabah was referred to the ICJ, while our concern over Singapore's land reclamation led us to institute arbitral proceedings at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). In the case involving Sipadan and Ligitan, the ICJ on Dec 17, 2002, in a 16-1 majority decision, ruled that both islands belonged to Malaysia. On Singapore's land reclamation, the ITLOS tribunal issued a provisional ruling on Oct 9, 2003, which, among others, directed Singapore not to conduct its activities in ways that would prejudice Malaysia's rights or damage the marine environment. In both cases, the outcome of the proceedings confirmed Malaysia's position. But neither outcome would have been possible for Malaysia without a strong, meticulously prepared case. That track record continued with the Pulau Batu Puteh proceedings at the ICJ. Three of the five leading international law experts who argued our case for Pulau Batu Puteh also represented Malaysia at the ICJ during the proceedings for Sipadan and Ligitan and at the ITLOS tribunal on Singapore's reclamation works. Cambridge University professors Sir Datuk Elihu Lauterpacht QC and Datuk James Crawford, and Leiden University international law professor Datuk Nicolaas Jan Schrijver are among the best in the business. Under the capable leadership of Malaysia's Agent for the Pulau Batu Puteh case, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, as well as our Co-Agent, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, the legal team assembled a case that involved research spanning nearly 30 years. More than 50 experts were roped in to scour records in nine countries. No stone was left unturned in our research to present the most compelling arguments to the ICJ. Our preparations would not have been successful without the assistance of the attorney-general, the National Archives of Malaysia, the Department of Survey and Mapping, and the Johor government. The inter-departmental co-operation involved 35 ministries, agencies, departments, the armed forces, police and local institutions of higher learning. It easily serves as one of the best case studies in teamwork and dedication to protect the interests of Malaysia. To put the nearly 30 years spent researching the Pulau Batu Puteh case into perspective, consider how the top position at the Foreign Ministry changed hands not once or twice but seven times in that period! Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail was foreign minister at the time the work began. He was succeeded by Tun Mohd Ghazali Shafie in 1981, but was reappointed to his old portfolio in 1984. I was made the minister two years later, and Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar succeeded me in 1987. But the research went on uninterrupted right through to when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was appointed foreign minister in 1991, and when Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar assumed the position in 1999. Now, as fate would have it, I have again found myself back in the saddle at the ministry, just as the case draws to its conclusion. All my predecessors deserve their due credit. This is a story of a torch being handed from one helm to another. I would be remiss not to record the highest appreciation to all the many officers - some of whom have retired - who dedicated themselves to helping Malaysia present the best possible case at the ICJ. We all have a special attachment to this case. Not just for the time and effort spent on it, but because of our responsibility to the Malaysian public to give our all in protecting our nation's territorial sovereignty. The judgment on May 23 will mark the end of a long journey. We must bear in mind that in any legal case, the outcome is not guaranteed. We can only prepare the best possible arguments and hope that the judges will agree and rule in our favour. As I have communicated to my counterpart in Singapore, in the event Malaysia gets the judgment, Singapore should accept the fact. And if Singapore gets the decision, Malaysia will do likewise. Inasmuch as both nations respect international law, so shall we respect the decision of the ICJ. The dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh has constrained our ties with one of our closest neighbours and fellow Asean member states. We hope a resolution to this dispute can pave the way to easing our other outstanding bilateral issues with Singapore. Our decision to take this matter to the ICJ demonstrates that Malaysia is a nation that places great emphasis on the rule of law and affirms our position as a respectable member of the international community. There should be no acrimony on either side, no matter what the judgment may be, and on this both Malaysia and Singapore have agreed. I'm happy to report that both countries have also agreed to have a Joint Technical Committee meeting headed by our Foreign Ministry secretary-general, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, and his Singapore counterpart, before the judgment is made. In the end, it is what Malaysia and Singapore do after May 23 that will decide whether we can bring closure to a bilateral issue that has besieged us for more than three decades. Whatever the final outcome, Malaysia and Singapore will remain steadfast as friends and neighbours bound by understanding and harmony. [Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim is Foreign Minister of Malaysia]. © 2008 NST Online.

Pulau Batu Puteh's sovereignty arguments backed by 30 years of research
Kuala Lumpur - When the Malaysian legal team appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year to convince the court that the country has sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, it was backed by 30 years of research work. The extensive research had to be carried out since the sovereignty dispute between Malaysia and Singapore before the ICJ based at The Hague in the Netherlands involved legal and historical factors. Malaysian officials not only conducted research in Malaysia but also worldwide, to present a meticulous case before the ICJ panel of 16 judges. During the proceedings from Nov 6 to 23 last year, legal arguments by the Malaysian team led by Malaysia's agent for the case, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohammed, were reinforced with important historical fact, including the history of the Johor Sultanate and the British Empire. In fact, Kadir had said that the team's good performance in court, comprising three Malaysian senior officials and five prominent international legal experts, was partly due to the good preparatory work, especially the research work by Malaysian officials. The research effort, headed and coordinated by Wisma Putra, had been a real national effort involving many governmental agencies, universities and other institutions, he had told Malaysian journalists covering the case last year. For some of those who attended the proceedings, the arguments became a "valuable history lesson." It was heartening to hear the five international law experts arguing effortlessly on the historical factors, stressing on the point that Johor has the original title to Pulau Batu Puteh and the two marine features since time immemorial, dismissing Singapore’s contention that the island was terra nullius (no man’s land) when the British took possession of it in 1847. Three of the experts were also counsel for Malaysia in the Ligitan and Sipadan case between Malaysia and Indonesia where the ICJ ruled in 2002 that the islands belong to Malaysia. Kadir had also led the team for that case. The three were Sir Elihu Lauterpach and James Crawford, both professors in International Law at the Cambridge University, and Nicolaas Jan Schrijver, professor of International Law, Leiden University. Others involved in the Pulau Batu Puteh case were Marcelo G. Kohen, professor of international law, the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva; and Penelope Nevill, college lecturer, Downing College at Cambridge University. Also part of the Malaysian team whom Kadir described as having presented Malaysia’s case in the best possible manner were Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and co-agent Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin. However, it was not only the legal experts who played a major role in the arguments that the island, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, belong to Johor since time immemorial and that Singapore was merely the operator of the Horsburgh Lighthouse built on the island which the island republic called Pedra Branca (Portuguese for white rock) in 1851. Technical advisors like Tan Ah Bah, the Director of Survey (Boundary Affairs Section), Department of Survey and Mapping, and Professor Dr Sharifah Mastura Syed Abdullah, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were also very much part of the team. The research work was voluminous and extensive and carried out worldwide in many archives and museums. The National Archives, the National Hydrographic Centre of the Royal Malaysian Navy and individuals who are experts in their fields, apart from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and officers from the Adjudication and Arbitration Division, Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, were among those involved. Each of them are experts in their own fields. "We do not create a team overnight. It is a good team and their spirits are always up," Raja Nazrin Aznam, Under-Secretary of the Adjudication and Arbitration Division at Wisma Putra, had told Malaysian journalists covering the case last year. Come May 23, the ICJ will decide who should have sovereignty over the small island located 7.7 nautical miles off Johor coast, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, which Malaysia says are among the many maritime features that have always formed part of Johor and its surrounding waters and used by local Malays as subjects of the Johor Sultanate and residents of Johor. Whatever the outcome, both countries have repeatedly emphasised that it would not strain ties between the two neighbours. Malaysia and Singapore have pledged to abide by the decision of the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, whose decision is final and not subject to appeal. Like what Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim had written: “In the end, it is what Malaysia and Singapore do after May 23 that will decide whether we can bring closure to a bilateral issue that has besieged us for more than three decades. "Whatever the outcome, Malaysia and Singapore will remain steadfast as friends and neighbours bound by understanding and harmony.” © 2008 BERNAMA.

Rais: no ICJ for Ambalat block
Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan - Malaysia and Indonesia will not refer their dispute over the oil and gas rich Ambalat block to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim said this was because the governments of both countries had formed an eminent persons group to study the dispute. “We have agreed to settle the matter amicably. We will seek the views of experts on the laws of the seas and territories for a solution,” he added. “We will also get a neutral group to give its views on this once we have got the recommendations from the technical committee which has representatives from both countries,” he said after opening the Jelebu ex-policemen’s association annual general meeting here. He said both the governments had decided to take this measure based on past experience, when the ICJ found in favour of Malaysia on the issue of Sipadan and Ligitan islands. The ICJ’s decision led to some Indonesian politicians and sections of its media stoking anti-Malaysia sentiments. It was from then that Jakarta began securing its maritime borders and small outlying islands. Said Dr Rais: “We are confident that we will be able to solve the ownership claims in a cordial manner. We have to do this as we value our ties.” In early 2005, the Malaysian and Indonesian navies had an altercation near the disputed Ambalat block when Malaysia awarded oil exploration rights in an area off the Sulawesi Sea, which was also claimed by Indonesia, to Shell. At the same time, the Indonesian government granted permission to Italy’s Eni to explore for oil and gas in the Ambalat block. Indonesia then sent warships and fighter jets to the area, forcing leaders of both governments to quickly call for a halt to activities. On a separate matter, Dr Rais said he would brief all MPs on Wednesday on the Pulau Batu Putih dispute to be decided by the ICJ in The Hague two days later. Both Malaysia and Singapore have claimed ownership over the atoll that is almost the size of a football field. “Both governments will abide by the decision of the ICJ as we do not want to jeopardise our bilateral relations,” he said, adding that Kuala Lumpur was confident the decision would be in its favour. “Singapore has expressed confidence that the decision would go its way. But we are positive,” he said. Meanwhile, Radio Television Malaysia will telecast live the verdict on Pulau Batu Putih , said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek. Ahmad Shabery said the live proceedings would allow Malaysians to see for themselves what was happening instead of getting the information from foreign channels such as CNN. © 1995-2008 Star Publications (M) Bhd.

Rais: verdict over Pulau Batu Puteh will be in our favour
Johor Baru - Malaysia has a good chance of winning the sovereignty dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers judgment on May 23, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said yesterday. "Having gone through the items, the grounds of submission and the case law that has been relied upon, Malaysia has a very good case. We are confident that the judgment will be in our favour," he said at a press conference after a 90-minute briefing by state government officials at Bukit Timbalan here yesterday. Also present was Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman. Rais said he had recently visited Singapore and both countries had agreed to submit to the ICJ decision. The arguments submitted by Malaysia to the ICJ were based on historical facts closely related to treaty, population, regulations and terms which stated a clear case of Malaysia owning the territory, he said. Asked about Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Prof S. Jayakumar's statement on Singapore winning the case, Rais said that the republic might feel they too had submitted strong evidence. "Singapore may have the same feeling about their efforts in producing evidence in court to support their case. We cannot stop them from expressing their confidence." Rais said both countries had agreed to form a joint technical committee headed by Foreign Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Rastam Mohamed Isa and his Singapore counterpart to act on the ICJ decision. "This committee will study and translate the ICJ decision and make recommendations on the governance of Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge to both countries," he said. Rais said it was too early for the ministry to postulate the actions that would be taken should the ICJ deliver a judgment unfavourable to Malaysia. "I will be making a statement from the Hague, the moment we get the verdict. It is rather premature to postulate now on what we would do next," he added. Rais also met the Sultan of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene yesterday to brief him on the case. "Since the territorial dispute is located in Johor waters, it is only right for us to inform the sultan of the proceedings and seek his feedback," he said. Members of Malaysia's legal team, including the special adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Mohamad, will be at The Hague on May 23 for the decision. © 2008 NST Online.

Ramunia’s RM2.2b contract scuttled by Jose Barrock
Kuala Lumpur - Ramunia Holdings Bhd’s lucrative RM2.2 billion contract secured from an Indian concern in January has been terminated as it was unable to come up with the required performance bank guarantees and insurance certificates. The Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp of India (ONGC), has also forfeited Ramunia’s “bid security” of US$500,000 (RM1.6 million), Ramunia said in an announcement to Bursa Malaysia. The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge weekly had previously reported that Ramunia was facing difficulties in securing funding and financial assistance for the project. Ramunia had denied it was facing such problems. Soon after announcing that it had won the contract, Ramunia’s share price had appreciated, hitting a 52-week high of RM1.95 on Feb 13. Some analysts had also turned bullish on the stock. According to an Aseambankers report dated end-March, Ramunia had a fabrication order book of RM2.7 billion, the bulk coming from the Indian project. A key issue now is whether the loss of the contract will have a bearing on MISC Bhd’s plan to acquire Ramunia. National carrier MISC had proposed a reverse takeover of Ramunia on Jan 20. Eight days later, Ramunia said its units Ramunia International Services Ltd and Ramunia Fabricators Sdn Bhd had been awarded the contract by ONGC which involved conducting major fabrication works on the B-193 Field development project, close to the Bassein gas field west of Mumbai. Due to the closeness of the announcement dates, speculation was rife that the Indian deal bore an impact on the valuation of Ramunia. MISC is proposing to inject its wholly owned unit Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd into Ramunia, in a deal valued at about RM3.2 billion, and valuing Ramunia stock at RM1 a share. It is left to be seen if valuations will change in light of the new development. Ramunia’s stock has a par value of 50 sen a share. Just last week MISC delayed the timeline for the conclusion of its due diligence on Ramunia, from end-May to the end of this year. In July 2006, conglomerate Sime Darby had proposed to acquire Ramunia but the deal fell through seven months later. It was revealed then that negotiations between Ramunia’s largest shareholder, Ramunia Energy and Marine Corp Sdn Bhd, and Sime Darby had ceased due to the latter’s consolidation. For the first three months of FY2008, Ramunia posted a net profit of RM5.7 million on the back of a RM110.2 million revenue. Ramunia’s stock shed seven sen yesterday to close at RM1.30. It has lost about 32% of its value since hitting a 52-week high of RM1.95 on Feb 13. © The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd.

RI, Malaysia to accelerate implementation of govt leaders` commitments
Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda and his new Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim, have agreed to speed up the implementation of commitments made by the two countries` leaders at their consultative meeting in Malaysia early this year. The two foreign ministers reached the agreement when they met at the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry here on Monday, the ministry`s spokesman, Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said. "Wirayuda and his Malaysian colleague agreed to take concrete steps to accelerate the implementation of the commitments made by the two countries` heads of govenment at their annual consultative meeting early this year," Legowo said. He said, although Yatim, who was only recently appointed Malaysian foreign minister to replace Syed Hamid Albar, had come to Jakarta mainly to introduce himself, he and Wirayuda took the opportunity to discuss followups to the outcome of the heads of government`s consultative meeting held in Kuala Lumpur last January 11. Legowo said Wirayuda and Yatim at their meeting among other things discussed the settlement of some outstanding border problems, protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, promotion of exchange of visits between Indonesian and Malaysian youths, and improvement of relations between the two countries` media communities. In relation with the border problems, the two ministers agreed that a number of issues which could not be settled in talks at technical level would be referred to ministerial-level talks. Technical-level talks on border issues were last held last February 21-22. The two countries have been trying to come to terms on the delimitation of their maritime borders in the Malacca Strait, the South China Sea and the Sulawesi Sea, and of their land borders in Borneo, specifically between East Kalimantan and Sabah, and between West Kalimantan and Sarawak. On the issue of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, the two countries agreed to improve their protection. The two foreign ministers also agreed that Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda would visit Malaysia in June to introduce the members of an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which the two heads of government had decided to form to provide them with advice on thorny bilateral issues. Indonesia-Malaysia diplomatic relations which have entered their 50th year, were in the recent past put to the test by incidents that triggered mass demonstrations in Indonesia such as the maltreatment of an Indonesian referee in Malaysia and Malaysian claims to certain products of Indonesian culture. Legowo said as Indonesia and Malaysia were neighborly countries, issues could always arise between them. "But the important thing is the will to settle the problems," he said. The seven members of the EPG would be officially introduced during Wirayuda`s visit to Malaysia, he said, adding the process to select them was not yet completed. © 2008 ANTARA.

RI, Philippines to resolve illegal fishing in border areas
Manila - The Philippines and Indonesia will try to resolve illegal fishing activities in their maritime border areas at a meeting this week in southern Philippines, reported the official Philippines News Agency on Thursday. Philippine government officials and officials of Northern Sulawesi of Indonesia said the problem of illegal fishing is still under discussion in the ongoing talks among trade and tourism stakeholders from North Sulawesi and Southern Mindanao in Davao, said the report. Shelley Sondakh, executive secretary of the Brunei-Indonesia- Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Secretariat, said the two countries are keen on resolving the problem as it may escalate further into a dispute between the two countries if left unresolved. Sondakh also said tracing back the relationship of the Philippines and Indonesia would reveal a harmonious relationship of sharing the bountiful resources at the sea border located between Northern Sulawesi and Southern Mindanao. BIMP-EAGA is a sub-regional economic and trade cooperation entity set up by the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei with the help of the Asian Development Bank. © 2008 ANTARA

Tackling rising threat of piracy by Robin Brant
The old problem of piracy at sea is not only still a threat to ships across the world - it is on the rise. Figures for 2007 from the International Maritime Bureau show a 10% increase in the number of attacks. The narrow Malacca Straits between Malaysia and Indonesia, a crucial shipping lane, has been a notorious hotspot for years. But new security measures and help from the world's two richest countries have seen the number of attacks fall - for now. The threat has not gone away though. Hundreds of vessels - tankers, cargo ships - pass through the narrow channel every day. For centuries, it has been the gateway to the east. Malaysia patrols one side, Indonesia the other. It is their job to protect the ships from dozens of nations which pass along the straits.
Kidnapped
In August last year, they could not protect Anwar though. His tug-boat was attacked by 10 armed pirates. They robbed the crew and destroyed all the communication equipment. He was kidnapped and held for 10 days. "I was scared by the violence," he told me. "It was not safe there obviously. They used to disturb us every day," he said. He was released after a ransom was paid. On the dockside at Port Klang in Malaysia, you can see what riches flow through the Malacca Straits. New cars come in from Singapore. Steel, coal - anything - goes out. Dozens of ships load or unload every day.
Vital route
Further along are huge storage containers where I saw a Japanese ship filling up with liquid petroleum gas. Energy is the most vital component of cargo which makes its way through the straits. Most of the oil which fuels Japan, the world's second largest economy, goes through the Malacca Straits. Out on patrol with Malaysia's new Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) we pulled up alongside the station which marks the border. It is about 10 nautical miles (18.5km) from land. A lighthouse painted with patriotic red and white rings sits just on the Malaysian side. A radar receiver was revolving on the roof. The MMEA has fast boats. New helicopters are on the way. Behind-the-scenes training and support has come from those with most at stake - Japan and the US. They are doing much to help beef up the infrastructure to ensure security standards are maintained. One on-the-spot inspection I witnessed whilst out on patrol bore no fruit. A small fishing boat and its crew were surprised by sirens. Most of these "stops" uncover smugglers - of people or cigarettes. No pirates have been caught recently. But vigilance has seen the number of piracy attacks fall. "The threats against piracy and robbery are real," said MMEA Director Vice-Admiral Mohammad bin Nik. "However, we, the littoral states [Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore] have taken measures to ensure that the waterway is safe for international shipping." The best chance of catching pirates is through intelligence, because patrolling the straits is challenging to say the least. Armed men on small boats have an infinite number of places to hide. When I asked Anwar if he felt safe working back in the area from where he was kidnapped, the tug-boat captain said: "It has to be avoided because it is dangerous." So far this year, there have been no attacks reported in the Malacca Straits. The pirates have moved elsewhere or they are laying low. But one expert who monitors security told me he fears it is temporary, with Indonesia the weak link in the chain. © BBC MMVIII.

Pirate attacks on the rise
Kuala Lumpur - A report from the International Maritime Bureau in Malaysia indicates pirate attacks are increasing for the first time in more than a decade. The bureau's report says pirate attacks have gone up 20 percent around the globe in the past year, The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday. It is reported the growing threat from the maritime marauders is partially a result of Somalia's flailing legal system and ongoing conflict in Nigeria. Nigeria has ranked No. 1 for piracy, with India and the Gulf of Aden coming second, the bureau said. This year, 49 pirate attacks occurred in the first quarter, eight more than at that time the year before, the bureau said. U.S. and French federal officials have written a United Nations resolution to permit countries to take pirates into police custody, the Telegraph said. © 2008 United Press International.

Call for joint maritime patrols
Johor Baru - Maritime patrols around Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks should be conducted jointly with Singapore as the two features were close to each other, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said. Details of the security arrangement will be worked out by the technical committee set up to study the implications of the International Court of Justice's decision, which ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore while Malaysia had sovereignty over Middle Rocks. Syed Hamid said Malaysia would not adopt an aggressive posture by cordoning off the area around Middle Rocks. "Though Singapore got Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks belongs to us and our fishermen and vessels should not be hindered from going to the area. "The technical committee must sit down and figure out the security arrangement and navigation in the area," Syed Hamid said. Following the decision by the court on Friday, the government said a bilateral technical committee would be formed to draw up the two countries' maritime borders around Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks. The committee would also determine which country possessed South Ledge, an outcropping southwest of Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks that is only visible at low tide. © 2008 NST Online.

No need to build new lighthouses
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia will not build new lighthouses, said Maritime Department director-general Datuk Capt Ahmad Othman. He said there were 43 lighthouses nationwide. "We will maintain the 43 lighthouses as a back-up system for ships with malfunctioning electronic mechanism." There are 14 lighthouses in the peninsula, 22 in Sabah and the rest in Sarawak. Ahmad said: "Lighthouses will never go out of fashion despite ships having the latest technology to navigate. "This is because when electronics fail, ships can rely on lighthouses." He said the department would set up light beacons if the need arose as they were easier to maintain than old-fashioned lighthouses. © 2008 NST Online.

Johor wants maritime boundaries drawn up fast
Johor Baru - Now that the legal dispute over Pulau Batu Puteh has been settled, the state government wants clear maritime boundaries to be drawn around the island and the Middle Rocks. Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman urged the technical committee studying the implications of the International Court of Justice ruling to swiftly convene a meeting and set the boundaries. The ICJ has ruled that Singapore has sovereignty over Pulau Batu Putih while it gave Malaysia ownership of the Middle Rocks. "The boundaries are important for fishermen. Many problems with regard to territorial rights can be resolved once the boundaries are drawn," Abdul Ghani said after opening a Massif Design Sdn Bhd showroom here yesterday. The company specialises in landscaping work. The ICJ ruled that South Ledge will belong to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located. In George Town, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said the party was disappointed with the decision to award Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore. He questioned how Pulau Batu Puteh could be awarded to Singapore when it was much nearer to the tip of Johor compared with Singapore. Karpal also expressed doubts on whether the government had taken proper legal advice. "Malaysia should not have been judged by the ICJ unless it was confident of a win. The decision may lead to other disputes of a maritime nature between Malaysia and Singapore." He also called on the government to compensate the fishing community in Johor Baru affected by the ICJ decision. © 2008 NST Online.

'Less tension' after ICJ ruling
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia and Singapore should experience less tension about protecting their claims over Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks now that the International Court of Justice has made its ruling. "We should be more relaxed now about safeguarding our claims (or) the intensity of our patrols," said Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, who was in Yangon on Monday. While there, Yeo met Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim on the sidelines of an Asean-United Nations-sponsored donor conference on Myanmar. Yeo said: "When both sides get something, it is easier to keep a relationship." He added bilateral relations between Singapore and Malaysia were good and both ministers were determined to push them to a higher level. Yeo said it was Malaysia's turn this year to host the friendly games between Wisma Putra and Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "He (Rais) doesn't play golf; I don't play badminton, so we thought of going fishing. Maybe, we will go fishing between Pedra Branca and Middle Rocks," said Yeo. Meanwhile, Singaporean media are using less-emotive language in their reports on the issue. A Singapore newspaper reader said: "The reports are done in a measured tone and they focus more on the implications." © 2008 NST Online.

Pulau Pisang won't be another Batu Puteh
Johor Baru - Pulau Pisang, which has a lighthouse operated by Singapore, will not turn into another Batu Puteh case as Malaysia has sovereignty over the island. The island, which lies off the west coast of Pontian, is listed in the Johor Land Office Registry while Singapore only has ownership of the lighthouse, a jetty and the access road linking both structures. In assuring Malaysians that the island would not fall into Singaporean hands, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the status of the lighthouse and island was stated in a 1900 agreement between Johor's Sultan Ibrahim and the British colonial government that administered Singapore. Johor Pas Youth, meanwhile, wants the government to take over the administration of the lighthouse. The 1900 agreement stipulates that the British were allowed to build a lighthouse on a 0.4ha plot, and a jetty and an access road, both of which collectively take up another 0.4ha. Abdul Ghani said: "In 2002, the government tightened conditions and procedures for the lighthouse crew. "They were to register with the Marine Department, the Immigration Department and the Customs Department office in Kukup. Every change of shift between the lighthouse crews has to be registered in Kukup." These procedures could be taken as Malaysia exercises control over Pulau Pisang. A report in a Malay daily had quoted Pontian member of Parliament Ahmad Maslan as urging the government to cement Pulau Pisang's status as Malaysian territory. Abdul Ghani said Pulau Pisang had 154ha of orchards owned by 82 villagers from Pontian. There is also a marine police base on Pulau Pisang for the authorities to watch over its waters and that of nearby Pulau Tunda, Kemudi and Sauh. "Our fishermen can go to Pulau Pisang to fish," Abdul Ghani said. © 2008 NST Online.

Hot spots where navy sees action
Kuala lumpur - There are about 100 islands, reefs, rocks and other marine features that Malaysia could lose if nothing is done to claim them. These include Pulau Unarang (off eastern Sabah and bordering Indonesia), Pulau Perak (between Penang and Sumatra) and several islands in the South China Sea. Marine Institute of Malaysia Research Fellow Capt Rakish Suppiah said Malaysia had to take control of some of the islands, which are unclaimed. "If nothing is done, then we will have more Pedra Branca cases." He said other countries might also start building structures and later claim these places as theirs. He cited Pulau Unarang as one which Indonesia might want to get hold of as it is a good fishing spot. "They have put up fishing apparatus on the island, although they are unable to build a lighthouse or permanent structure as our navy is patrolling the island." However, Rakish said there had been recent standoffs between the navy and armed personnel from the Indonesian side. Another island that Malaysia has to claim immediately is Pulau Perak. The feature, made up of rocks, he said, was a strategic place, with pirates even resting or finding refuge there. "Even though we have built a helicopter pad on the island, we are too relaxed about it. "Our navy and army are patrolling the area but more could be done." Rakish said there had been standoffs between the navy and armed personnel from Indonesia. In the South China Sea, he said China had shown its intention of claiming islands and marine features all the way to Sarawak's coast. "There are many islands here. But after Petronas claimed some of the oil drilling areas, they moved back," he said. Other than China, he said Vietnam was another claimant of some of the islands and marine features. © 2008 NST Online.

Malaysia takes steps to claim 100 isles, reefs by Minderjeet Kaur
Kuala Lumpur - Government agencies are working feverishly to gather information on islands and marine features which could be eyed by neighbouring countries. This comes in the wake of the International Court of Justice's decision to award Pedra Branca to Singapore. The court, however, handed ownership of Middle Rocks to Malaysia, while the status of South Ledge will be decided based on whose territorial waters it is in. As the claim of ownership extends beyond islands to marine features such as reefs and even rock formations visible only during low tides, the number could exceed thousands. A maritime expert, however, said the most urgent were about 100 islands, reefs, rocks and other marine features lying in the South China Sea, Straits of Malacca and off Sabah. Among the claimants are China, Vietnam and Indonesia, a source said. He said agencies were collecting data on these islands and marine features. He added that the data collection was crucial. "If other countries start to claim our property, we will be in better position as we would have the data." He said some of the islands were significant while others were not. It is learnt that the National Remote Sensing Centre had also started zooming in on some of the islands and marine features at the southern coast of the peninsula to gather information on them. "We will expedite the data gathering," the source said. Using satellites, the Remote Sensing agency will also collect data from Malaysia's other coastal areas. Foreign Ministry officials are also engaged in discussions to look into the implications of the ICJ's decision on Pedra Branca. These include the right of passage of Malaysian fishermen going to the waters around Middle Rocks and South Ledge. As of now, fishermen have been advised to stay away until the government studies the implications of the decision. Top officials from the Fisheries Department have also been in meetings with officials from other agencies to discuss the implications, especially the impact on fishermen. They are looking at ways that would benefit fishermen. However, Fish Merchant Association president Goi Hong Kee said his members were not affected by the decision as most fishermen did not go near Pedra Branca. "Those who go there usually fish illegally and sell it to Singapore," he said. However, he said the association welcomed guidelines from the authorities. © 2008 NST Online.

A rock-solid judgment for Malaysia by Mohamed Jawhar Hassan
Malaysians are rightly disappointed by the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which found that sovereignty over Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore. It should surprise no one that the verdict has elicited such an emotive response from the general public. The instinct to protect and defend one's own territory is a primordial one. Every inch of the nation's territory, even a rock no bigger than a football field, deserves to be treated as no less than sacred ground. All the attention given to Batu Puteh, however, has distracted us from the full impact of last Friday's judgment. Admittedly, Singapore can now claim sovereignty over what it calls Pedra Branca, the largest of the three maritime features that had been contested by the two countries. But the court also found in Malaysia's favour its claim to Middle Rocks and puts the country in a favourable position to eventually claim South Ledge. They may appear to be nothing more than insignificant rocky outcrops, but the implications of sovereignty over Middle Rocks and South Ledge are far from negligible. So, was the government ill-advised in referring the case to the ICJ, as certain individuals have suggested? Should Malaysia only resort to the ICJ when it is assured of nothing less than absolute victory? Should Malaysia have stuck with the status quo and delayed resolution to the overlapping claims over Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge? The dispute over Batu Puteh first arose in February 1980, when Singapore objected to a map that had been published by Malaysia in 1979. Among other things, the map, showed Batu Puteh to be a part of Malaysian territory. The decision by Malaysia and Singapore in 1993 to refer the dispute to the ICJ was only made after it was clear that, after years of negotiations and exchanging correspondences, the two countries could not solve their overlapping claims over Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge through bilateral discussions. Finding a peaceful solution is the way that nations should conduct themselves, especially when all options have been exhausted through diplomatic means. By referring the case to the ICJ, Malaysia and Singapore have demonstrated the sort of maturity that is rare in the international community, even among its oldest members. Instead of resorting to an arms race or the use of force, the two countries opted to use only the most peaceful and civilised means of resolving a territorial dispute. Allowing it to fester was not an option, as that would only have poisoned bilateral relations, to the detriment of both countries. Quite clearly, the governments of both countries opted to refer the dispute to the ICJ not merely through a narrow legal perspective. The decision would have been made after a careful weighing of each nation's interests, including in setting a pattern of interaction that favours the peaceful resolution of disputes. Indeed, the ICJ's decision has advanced Malaysia's interests in no small measure. In 1986, in an area it knew full well was contested, Singapore began what amounted to a naval blockade around Batu Puteh, creating bilateral tensions. Johor fishermen were denied the right to fish in their traditional fishing waters and use sheltering spots in the vicinity. With the ICJ judgment, our fishermen will soon be able to access the waters in the area without intimidation, once the joint technical committee established by Malaysia and Singapore sorts out related matters. This might not seem to matter a great deal to most Malaysians, but it is a matter of livelihood for the estimated 1,500 fishermen in the area. The judgment has also strengthened Malaysia's claim to the waters surrounding the three maritime features. Singapore went to the ICJ with the argument that Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge all belonged to them. The ICJ's decision has effectively restricted Singapore's claim only to the waters off Batu Puteh. The judgment at The Hague has, therefore, advanced Mal-aysia's interests far beyond what it would have, or more accurately what it did not have, if the original status quo had remained. [Datuk Seri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan is chairman and chief executive officer of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies. The views expressed above are his own.] © 2008 NST Online.