Singapore confident will retain ownership of Pedra Branca

Singapore is confident it will retain Pedra Branca, having a strong case, said its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long.

The PM said that Singapore will successfully defend its case against Malaysia on the latter’s claims made to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“I am confident of the eventual outcome, because we have a capable and experienced team in the AGC (Attorney-General’s Chambers)… and furthermore, not only do we have strong lawyers but we have a strong case,” he said.

“So I think we’re all right,” he said in his speech at an event celebrating the AGC’s 150th anniversary Friday.

Malaysia had on Feb 2, filed an application for revision of the International Court of Justice’s judgment of May 23, 2008 over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

In its judgment, the ICJ in The Hague, the Netherlands, had ruled that sovereignty over Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, sovereignty over Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, and sovereignty over South Ledge belonged to the state in the territorial waters of which it is located.