Malaysia, S'pore move towards ending island row

Senior officials from Malaysia and Singapore agreed the two countries would submit competing claims on the island to the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Bernama quoted a Malaysian Foreign Ministry statement as saying.

Pulau Batu Puteh, which Singapore calls Pedra Branca, lies off Malaysia's Johor state.

Negotiations over the small island have dragged on for two years but received impetus following talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his Singapore counterpart, Goh Chok Tong, in Kuala Lumpur in February.

"Malaysia and Singapore successfully completed their third and final meeting to discuss the submission of the case of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh to the International Court of Justice," Bernama quoted the joint statement as saying.

The statement also said the meeting was held in the spirit of friendliness and close cooperation, and "both sides are satisfied that the meeting has brought the dispute closer to a solution."

The agreement, which will be submitted to the two governments before being forwarded to the International Court of Justice, provides for a time frame "with regards to the processes involved including the submission of written pleadings," it said.

The Malaysian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry secretary-general Abdul Kadir Mohamad while S. Tiwari, senior state counsel in the attorney general's chambers, headed the Singaporean delegation.

In February, the two countries set a mid-April deadline for reaching a second agreement on continued water supplies from Malaysia to Singapore. Malaysia has promised not to cut off water to its southern neighbor.