Win-win in Pedra Branca?
May 26th, 2008 by Tian
Government declared that it is a win-win judgement for Pulau Batu Puteh/Pedra Branca.
How is it win-win? The ICJ ruled that the main island legitimately belonged to Singapore. Malaysia only given two pieces of coral rocks. Where is our “win”?
In fact we have ‘lost’ the islet long before the ICJ ruling:
First, Umno led Alliance Government requested Singapore to succeed from the Federation of Malaysia. We have given up a Pulau, now we are fighting over a Batu.
Secondly, the Government appointed AG Abdul Gani Patail as the leader of the defense lawyers in the Hague. What do you expect from Gani? There is no Lingam to run around to contact the judges.
Last week, Foreign Minister Rais Yatim briefed our MPs in the Parliament, and he was very confident that the judgement would be on our favour.
In my view, the aftermath of Batu Puteh is not yet over. Umno over the last few decades has been fanning xenophobic anti-Singapore sentiment among the public. It would be tough for Umno to answer.
In parliament today, in our debate on the Supplementary Supply Bil, Opposition Leader Wan Azizah again questioned the wisdom of buying Sorpene and Sukhoi.
The YB of Lipis defended the government of the spending. I objected to him philosophically.
As we have witnessed, expensive weapon is no guarantee for the defence of our territories. We should invest more in software rather than hardware. We need more expertise in history, social science, the art of diplomacy, and so on.
Well said, Tian. Where is the win-win? Even the two pieces of corals given to Malaysia get submerged during high tide and you can’t see them anymore! I am not unpatriotic but maybe it is good that Singapore won this round. Teach those arrogant fellas a lesson that they can only talk big in Malaysia (jaguh kampung!) but in international arena??
Prior to the judgement, the government was confident that they will win because they have prepared a good arguement. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment for the people. From hindsight, is it worth the fight just for two coral islands? But, who initiated all these? What other options do they have besides claiming a “win-win” decision? It’s time for us to seriously “blamestorm” and recommend to take action against those who are involved now? They should be held accountable and a precedent must be set. Otherwise, we will be wasting tons and tons of good money and yet achieve nothing in all our endeavour. Roght?
Tian Chua. What about Selat Ambalat?
Look, first the Indons ram our navy ships…
http://www.indonesia-ottawa.org/information/details.php?type=news_copy&id=790
Then our DPM @ Defense Minister apologises…
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/3/29/malaysia-admits-mistakes-by-offering-apology-over-ambalat/
But later Mr. C4 backtracks and says NO, HE DID NOT…
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=253993
At this rate we might a well give Selat Ambalat to the Indons as well! Najib, are you sleeping on the job dreaming of ‘royal’ commissions or what, ah? Enforce our sovereignty over Selat Ambalat or lose it like we lost Batu Puteh!!!!!
For more on this…
http://jester2oberon.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/sedia-gempur-ataupun-sudah-digempur/
YB
Now u know it was wrong to have rci on lingam, given a chance not only would he have won the case,he would have gone on to stake a claim on s’pore as well.
Please don’t count your marbles before they are in your pocket
Otherwise you’ll be embarassed when they are found in another packet
You certainly don’t want to be famous for covering up with the wrong blanket
Or to try to hide your entire own face with a fanciful borrowed jacket
(C) Samuel Goh Kim Eng - 260508
http://MotivationInMotion.blogspot.com
Mon. 26th May 2008.
Good morning Ah Tian…
Let it pass YB. The ICJ have made the decision. We must be professional. Just don’t repeat the same mistake.
Hi ,
our legal eagles who were in Hague are a bunch of kampung bashers who only know that justice can be bartered and bought over. The verdict could have been much better if prominent learned people like Param Cumuraswamy or Karpal Singh had been chosen to represent Malaysia.
What is at stake at the ICJ is a matter of national/sovereign pride, nothing more. What the point of fighting over an ‘island’ that is half the size of a football field? Surely anyone following this case, can see the Singaporean have a better case since they have occupied the island for a long time without any disturbance and even built a lighthouse on top of it. Malaysia should have realised our chances are slim and not try to embrass ourselves any further. PAS Johor is right to lodge a report against the govt for their inaction that causes us to lose the case.
Rais Yatim should resign not for failing to win the island but for injecting false hope to the rakyat. Now our neighbour down south will not stop harping on this for quite sometime. Thanks a lot Rais!!
Even the one with the brain is now a no brainer. We LOST !! KALAH, if the no brainer is like Mohd son of Mohd whose Ingerik is no good. While what is lost is lost, I hope we can learn from this mistake i.e.
1) never trust Gunny Petai;
2) never trust the current govt;
3) always keep original documents in a safe place; and
4) get competent and honest people to do important things.
The way I looked at it even before the case is decided, the only way we can win is to get Lingam argue our case. Of course he must be the one who write the judgement. And lastly, he must bump into all the judges during their vacations and tag along.
Losing Pulau Batu Putih is not only about losing a piece of rock, the size of a football field - now Singapore has its territorial waters extended many knots from its coastline (including airspace)!!!
How could we had given up this small crop of rock back in 1952 - the State Officer who wrote that letter to “disown” Pulau Batu Putih should be put in jail (if he is still around).
Never give away even a square inch of our land! Never! Otherwise we might as well start advertising our land, islands and islets for sale to the highest bidder!
Ref the ‘win-win’ claim by Rais Yatim, it goes to show how stupid our government (read UMNO) leaders are. Rather than expressing disappointment at losing out on the big one accompanied by a statement of consolation at gaining the small one, the spokesperson gives a statement that is a laughing stock for the whole world….this is the kind of mediocre and low standards across the board in every situation in Malaysia as long as those numbskull nincompoop UMNO leaders remain in govt. And they want us to be proud of them and the country !!!