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Foreign Ministry looks at setting up research centre on the rock outcrops 'Whether the proposal will affect the eco-system in the area will have to be determined by a feasibility study.' The Straits Times
MALAYSIA is considering a plan to merge a pair of rock outcrops called the Middle Rocks, to extend the territory that it was awarded recently by the International Court of Justice. The proposal by the Foreign Ministry to develop the Middle Rocks includes the possibility of setting up a scientific research centre, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said yesterday, adding that he will present the proposal to the Cabinet today. 'Both rock outcrops are very close and can be merged to make it longer and wider,' he told Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia. He stressed, however, that the proposal will have to be approved by the Cabinet and was just a suggestion for the government to consider. 'Whether the proposal will affect the eco-system in the area will have to be determined by a feasibility study...for now, we have to register our presence there through legal means,' he told The Star daily. Made of granite, the Middle Rocks consist of two clusters of rocks lying 1.1km south of Pedra Branca. According to the ICJ, the two rock outcrops are about 250m apart and stand 0.6m to 1.2m high. In its May 23 judgment on the 28-year dispute over the island and outcrops, the ICJ had awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore and the Middle Rocks to Malaysia. A third rock outcrop, the South Ledge, is visible only at low tide, and was ruled by the ICJ to belong to whoever owns the territorial waters it sits in. Mr Rais also stressed that while his ministry was looking at the idea to develop the Middle Rocks, Malaysia will ensure that the international shipping route in the Singapore Straits will not be affected. He added that both countries have agreed to avoid clashes while surveying their territories. The plan to develop the Middle Rocks had come with a survey conducted by a Malaysian technical committee there. Mr Rais said the survey showed that there was potential for the rock outcrops to host a meteorological research centre and a maritime observatory. 'The visit by the Malaysian team, which is not objected to by Singapore, is to evaluate the area at closer proximity,' he told Utusan Malaysia. He also expressed optimism that the South Ledge would be shown to sit in Malaysian waters. On Saturday, Mr Rais had said that Malaysia had renewed its search for evidence to stake its claim on Pedra Branca. He told The Star that he has directed his officials to try again to trace a letter written by British governor William Butterworth to the temenggong and sultan of Johor seeking permission to build Horsburgh Lighthouse on the island. He had claimed that although the ICJ's ruling on May 23 was final and not subject to appeal, there was a specific provision in the court's rules that allowed for a judicial review of a case within 10 years if new evidence was found. However, Mr Rais conceded that the letter might not be sufficient to overturn the ICJ judgment.'But of course when you introduce (new) evidence, there could be other strong, compelling reasons under international law to rebut it,' he said. 'Which means although we find the letter, it might cease to be of operation if we are shown not to have been operating in the island for 100 years. It could be that way too.' While the ICJ judgment had resulted in some unhappiness, especially in Malaysia, Malaysian High Commissioner N. Parameswaran has called on his countrymen to put the issue behind them. 'Definitely, the recent decision on the island will cause some fallout from some quarters, but with the issue closed, both countries should work towards improving ties, especially with regard to Iskandar Malaysia,' he told The Star. Iskandar Malaysia is a development project which aims to turn southern Johor into an economic zone.
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The Blogs 
Are we going to let the Indons do as they please over there? Please answer! Isn't it true their navy ships are intruding and ailing like nobody's business on waters rightly awarded to Malaysia by the ICJ? Why aren't we exercising our sovereignty there?
NAJIB ANAK RAZAK. Defence Minister @ Mr. C4! Sleeping on the job dreaming of 'royal' commissions ah? Please, modernisation of armed forces not for show only in Merdeka Day. Eject those Indons out before we lose ketuanan over Selat Ambalat like we lost Pulau Batu Puteh! Even Tun Perak and Tunku had balls to take on the Indons during their time; unlike you constantly grovelling and say sorry to the Indons like a coward!
PERTAHANKAN SELAT AMBALAT! JANGANLAH PISANG BERBUAH DUA KALI!
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/3/29/malaysia-admits-mistakes-by-offering-apology-over-ambalat/