Musa Aman: Nur Misuari's call a non-issue

source: nst
KOTA KINABALU: Nur Misuari's call for the International Court of Justice to resolve Sabah's status in relation to the Philippines claim over the state is a non-issue, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said yesterday.

He said there was "no need to address the matter" raised by Nur Misuari at a Moro National Liberation Front gathering in Davao City, south of the Philippines, over the weekend. However, Musa declined to elaborate.

MindaNews of the Philippines had reported Nur Misuari's call and the story was subsequently posted on the Malaysia Today website.

In his speech at the gathering, Nur Misuari had challenged Malaysia to show proof that Sabah belonged to the country.

Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee had said on Monday that "rumblings from Davao City" over the Philippines' claim on Sabah warranted the immediate attention of the National Security Council in Putrajaya and the Sabah State Security Committee.

Malaysia’s Middle Rocks The Dot Of An Exclamation Mark To Sleep Beyond South Ledge

Fishermen can access Middle Rocks – nst
By : V. Anbalagan from the The Hague
MALAYSIAN fishermen can now operate freely in the waters off Middle Rocks following the International Court of Justice's ruling, which awarded the uninhabited outcropping to Malaysia, an academician said.

Professor Dr Nik Anuar Nik Mahmud, senior lecturer with The Malay World and Civilisation Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the navy and marine police could patrol the area without hindrance.

He said the air force would also have access to the airspace.

"We have been denied entry to that locality since 1986 after Singapore took control of Pulau Batu Puteh (PBP) and the two maritime features. The republic has lost that exclusivity now," he told Malaysian journalists. – MORE

Fishermen can now go fishing off Middle Rocks – thestar

PENGERANG (Johor): For the first time in decades, Malaysian fishermen will be able to fish off Middle Rocks, which are just 0.6 nautical miles south of Pulau Batu Puteh (or Pedra Branca), which now officially belongs to Singapore.

Yesterday, the International Court of Justice granted ownership of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia.

“We will have a larger area to fish in,” said a fisherman who has been in the business for more than 30 years.

While some were disappointed that Pulau Batu Puteh went to Singapore, the fishermen said that the decision was fair and that the waters off Middle Rocks were also abundant with fish like sagai, tenggiri and bawal. .

Rock judgment: Fishermen from the Pengerang Fishermen’s Association watching the live telecast on the long awaited verdict on Pulau Batu Puteh.

Most of the fishermen here are optimistic that the governments of Malaysia and Singapore will work out something beneficial to both countries. -- MORE

Kuasa Singapura terhad - Nelayan kita kini bebas memasuki Middle Rocks selepas 22 tahun dihalang – utusan
Daripada Noraini Abd. Razak, The Hague
THE HAGUE, Belanda 24 Mei – Nelayan-nelayan di Johor terutamanya di kawasan Pengerang yang dihalang selama 22 tahun daripada mendekati perairan Middle Rocks, kini bebas menangkap ikan di kawasan tersebut berikutan keputusan Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) di sini semalam mengekalkan kedaulatan bentuk maritim itu kepada Malaysia.
Lebih daripada itu, Singapura yang sebelum ini bertindak mengawal perairan di Pulau Batu Putih, Middle Rocks dan South Ledge sejak tahun 1986 tidak lagi mempunyai kebebasan untuk berbuat demikian kerana bidang kuasa mereka kini terhad kepada Pulau Batu Putih semata-mata.
Ejen Bersama, Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin berkata, biarpun keputusan menyerahkan kedaulatan Batu Putih yang diakui oleh ICJ dari sudut sejarah adalah milik Kesultanan Johor (Malaysia) kepada Singapura dilihat oleh banyak pihak sebagai mendukacitakan tetapi hakikatnya, kedudukan nelayan-nelayan adalah lebih bebas berbanding sebelum ini.
Malah, katanya, Malaysia kini bebas dan mempunyai kuasa untuk melakukan pelbagai kegiatan di Middle Rocks dan perairan sekitarnya termasuk menempatkan kapal tentera laut, menjalankan kajian meteorologi dan mengawal ruang udara di kawasan tersebut - kesemuanya tidak dapat dilakukan sebelum ini.
''Keadaan akan menjadi lebih berfaedah apabila kita dengan penuh yakin dapat mengekalkan kedaulatan ke atas South Ledge berikutan kedudukannya yang begitu hampir dengan Middle Rocks.
''Berdasarkan pengamatan dan kajian terhadap kedudukan South Ledge, Malaysia amat yakin kita akan memperoleh satu lagi bentuk maritim menjadikan aktiviti kita di perairan tersebut lebih luas,'' katanya kepada wartawan Malaysia di sini, malam tadi.
ICJ dalam keputusannya semalam memutuskan bahawa kedudukan South Ledge hendaklah ditentukan menerusi rundingan antara Malaysia dan Singapura bagi menentukan di perairan negara mana ia terletak. – LAGI