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MALAYSIA sought to reaffirm its sovereignty over Middle Rocks by raising its national flag, five markers and a monument.

National Security Council secretary Muhammad Hatta Abdul Aziz said this was done by a team from the Mapping and Survey Department between June 4 and last Thursday.

'Mapping will be done by the department soon,' he said after the flag-raising ceremony on Saturday.

'After that, we might build more structures on it so that there will be no more dispute.'

Datuk Muhammad Hatta said the perimeter of Middle Rocks was about 450m, while the eastern side, where the flag was placed, was 80m by 15m.

He said the government would also start identifying and mapping all unnamed islands nationwide soon.

'According to the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, there are an estimated 110 islands, but it could be more,' he said.

He explained that locals, especially fishermen, were still prohibited from fishing near Middle Rocks until the technical committee formed by Malaysia and Singapore sorted out some issues.

'The committee discussion is ongoing, and I cannot give a timeframe,' he said.

Meanwhile, Mapping and Survey Department principal assistant director David Chang said that the monument placed on Middle Rocks would also be used to install a global navigational satellite system.

He said that among the challenges faced during the team's work there were the high tides, which made it hard for them to go to Middle Rocks.

Personnel from the department, the National Security Council and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency as well as members of the media joined in to sing the national anthem as the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time on Middle Rocks.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Comments (10)

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written by DJH, June 16, 2008 07:42:06

Is this an achievement???
I can give rocks to the garmen anytime for free

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written by FOLI, June 16, 2008 08:44:59

Maybe the cabinet can take their free holiday there from now on!

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written by Ben Nordin, June 16, 2008 08:50:45

Typical BN 'procedure'. They don't act but they react. Have to wait until something happens before we see them do anything. Took 50 years to start mapping the islands and rocks off our coast? 110 islands? How did you know? You ******d them or got it from some blogs again?

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written by krising1, June 16, 2008 09:04:42

We will now raise a monument in honour of those who raised our flag and reclaimed our land. Make sure their names are kept for historical records and in time to declare them Malaysian heroes, towering Malaysians, glocal Malaysians etc.

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written by binarytan, June 16, 2008 09:06:55

That is good for our image but HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

If it cost 2M Ringgit to do this, better forget it.

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written by joejoe, June 16, 2008 09:09:58

Bloody childish behaviour and what a sore loser!

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written by NickChan, June 16, 2008 09:29:23

loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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written by harryo, June 16, 2008 09:31:42

The rock become the pride of the nation. Probably use it for construction, it's worthwhile.

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written by ellyna, June 16, 2008 09:32:33

Hmmm...a bunch of dimwits so proud to go to some insignificant place and claim ownership! Bloody ID10Ts should be focussing on the immediate problem of rising prices due to their so-called removal of fuel subsidy. Dunno where to place their priorities.

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written by Surind Raj, June 16, 2008 12:37:26

Please take off the flag first & then plant the pole straight up your BN ass!

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