Top of page

Article Malaysia; Singapore: Court Rules in Maritime Dispute

(June 2, 2008) In a May 23, 2008, ruling of the International Court of Justice, Singapore has been accorded sovereignty over an island in the Straits of Singapore. The island, often called Pedra Branca but known in Malaysia as Pulau Batu Puteh, has a lighthouse and was the subject of a dispute between Singapore and Malaysia. In the same decision, Malaysia was given control over a series of uninhabited, above-water rocks. The 12 to 4 decision of the justices stated that the island had been Singapore's territory since at least 1980. The vote on giving control over the “Middle Rocks” to Malaysia was 15 to 1. The Court, which sits in The Hague, is also known as the World Court; its decisions are binding and there is no appeal. (UN Court Rules in Maritime Dispute Between Singapore and Malaysia, UN NEWS, May 23, 2008; AP, World Court Gives Lighthouse Island to Singapore (last visited May 27, 2008).

About this Item

Title

  • Malaysia; Singapore: Court Rules in Maritime Dispute

Online Format

  • web page

Rights & Access

Publications of the Library of Congress are works of the United States Government as defined in the United States Code 17 U.S.C. §105 and therefore are not subject to copyright and are free to use and reuse.  The Library of Congress has no objection to the international use and reuse of Library U.S. Government works on loc.gov. These works are also available for worldwide use and reuse under CC0 1.0 Universal. 

More about Copyright and other Restrictions.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Credit Line: Law Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Johnson, Constance. Malaysia; Singapore: Court Rules in Maritime Dispute. 2008. Web Page. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2008-06-02/malaysia-singapore-court-rules-in-maritime-dispute/.

APA citation style:

Johnson, C. (2008) Malaysia; Singapore: Court Rules in Maritime Dispute. [Web Page] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2008-06-02/malaysia-singapore-court-rules-in-maritime-dispute/.

MLA citation style:

Johnson, Constance. Malaysia; Singapore: Court Rules in Maritime Dispute. 2008. Web Page. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2008-06-02/malaysia-singapore-court-rules-in-maritime-dispute/>.