Letters
by Azmi
Salam sejahtera YB, saya adalah seorang anggota TLDM yang pernah ditugaskan untuk memantau kehadiran petugas rumah api warga Singapura di Pulau Pisang. YB, Pulau Pisang adalah pulau yang tidak dihuni, dimana penduduk asalnya telah berpindah ketanah besar di Pontian, yang tinggal hanya dusun dan perkuburan yang tidak terjaga, Ia terletak di perairan Pontian Johor dan jauh daripada Singapura.
Persoalannya mengapa kita yang telah 50 tahun merdeka masih memerlukan bantuan Singapura untuk mengawal selia rumah api tersebut, adakah Jabatan Laut tidak berupaya untuk mengawal selianya. Disini saya ingin memaklumkan kepada YB, selama penugasan saya di pulau tersebut, kami tidak dibenarkan memasuki persekitaran rumah api, malah menggunakan jetinya juga dilarang apatah lagi memasuki kedalam rumah api. Maka sepanjang penugasan kami di sana, kami hanya memerhatikan dari jauh warga Singapura keluar masuk, tidak lebih dari itu.
Merujuk kepada kemenangan Malaysia keatas kedaulatan Pulau Ligitan dan Sipadan adalah atas dasar pembangunan dan kawal selia Malaysia di pulau tersebut, begitu juga kehilangan kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh kepada Singapura juga atas alasan yang sama.
Tidakkah kerajaan Malaysia berasa risau dengan kedudukan Pulau Pisang yang mungkin akan dituntut haknya oleh Singapura pada masa akan datang (tidak sekarang, mungkin 50 tahun akan datang. Tuntutan keatas Pulau Batu Puteh pun dilakukan setelah puluhan tahun ia mengawal selia pulau tersebut). Ada atau tidak perjanjian antara Malaysia dan Singapura yang jelas menyatakan bahawa kehadiran Singapura di Pulau Pisang hanya mengawal selia rumah api sahaja.
Apakah para penasihat Kementerian Pertahanan atau Panglima Angkatan Tentera tidak sedar akan perkara ini. Tidakkah PAT terfikir, sekiranya berlaku konflik antara Malaysia dan Singapura, dengan mudah mereka boleh menempatkan pasukan elitnya di pulau ini. Mahukah kita buah pisang berbuah dua kali? kehilangan kedaulatan wilayah kepada pihak yang berada jauh dua kali ganda jaraknya daripada kita.
Saya amat berharap YB dapat memanjangkan persoalan ini kepada Menteri Pertahanan semasa persidangan parlimen.
Allow me to translate the last few paragraphs and hence practice my Bahasa. Thank you.
“This is to inform you YB Kit that throughout the duration of my duty on this island, we are not allowed to enter the vicinity of the light house nor the jetty leading to it, let alone enter the lighthouse itself. Our duty was merely to observe from a distance the movement of Singaporeans entering and leaving – nothing more than that.
With reference to the success of Malaysia’s claim of sovereignty over the islands of Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan which is based on the need for development, so is the loss of Malaysia’s claim over the island of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore – based on the need for development.
Doesn’t the Malaysian government feel concerned that the Singapore government is likely to file its claim on Pulau Pisang in the near future (if not soon, about 50 years from now). The claim over Pulau Batu Puteh took decades to resolve. Is there an agreement between the two governments that the sole purpose of Singaporean presence on this island is merely to man the lighthouse?
Aren’t officials at the Ministry of Defense and the Malaysian Armed Forces aware of the situation. In the event of a conflict between Malaysia and Singapore, is PAT aware that Singapore can easily position its elite forces on this island? Do we want “pisang berbuah dua kali” (sorry, no can find translation for this). The loss of our sovereignty over islands to another nation twice the distance away from us.
I hope you would raise the matter with the Ministry of Defense in Parliament.
In the event of a shooting war between the two countries, Singapore Air Force is likely to destroy all Malaysia’s obsolete fighter planes when they are still on the ground, and bomb all its air bases within the first 24 hours.
The crooked bridge now spanning the Straits of Johor would take Malaysia’s tanks back to where they come from. Thanks to Badawi!
What use are some atolls in the South China Sea – if not for the possbility of oil and gas deposits!
“pisang berbuah dua kali” = history repeats itself?
naah! banana comes twice!
I went fishing several times near this island way back in 1968 and in fact stopped there for a rest and a swim. We saw the lighthouse and was told it belonged to Singapore. The island is rocky and uninhabitable. There isn’t a sandy beach either.
All we saw a small sandy patch to rest and swim. Clean water and lots of coral fish.
got pictures of it? Haven’t seen it before
Pedra Blanca won by Singapore is much bigger than the other 2 rocks given to malaysia
http://bp1.blogger.com/_BJGWfUvJNiQ/SDa8pGHxs5I/AAAAAAAAEU8/Z8vb-Yc1Umk/s400/PhotoofSouthLedge(SingaporeMemorial).jpg
Fantastic translation. Except this paragraph which I changed slightly to reflect the reasons as to why Malaysian won Ligitan and Sipadan but lost Batu Puteh: With reference to the success of Malaysia’s claim of sovereignty over the islands of Pulau Ligitan and Sipadan which was based on the development, control and supervision by Malaysia on the said isalnds, so was the loss of Malaysia’s claim over the island of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore – based on the same reasons.
Singapore recognises Malaysian soverignity on Pulau Pisang and does not dispute that. However, they continue to operate the lighthouse there in perpetuity due to a 1900 agreement between the British Straits Settlement and the Johor Sultanate.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/parliament/relations/special4.htm
You can see the satelite view of the island and lighthouse on Google Maps.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=1.469545,103.255922&spn=0.002767,0.003181&t=h&z=18&om=1
Sebelum ICJ membuat keputusan, media Malaysia begitu yakin kes Batu Putih akan memihak kepada Malaysia atas hujah-hujah yang telah dikemukakan. Tetapi sebaliknya. Dimanakah kesilapan Malaysia?
Rais Yatim was was so cocky and confident that Malaysia will win the claim and made live telecast on RTM. What a big slap on the face for UMNO and Mahathir. Rais, why do you have to bring your wife to the Hague? Was the flight and accomodation paid by taxpayer’s money? Malaysia got one small rock that can only be seen in low tide and Singapore got a whole island, and you say it is a “win-win” situation? With people like you and UMNO running the country, no wonder other countries are leaps and bounds ahead of Malaysia.
azmi,you cant judge a book by it’s cover,likewise,you cant judge the island’s owner by its distance,otherwise sabah and sarawak will not belong to us right?
Yeah. what about falklands island owned by the British? Or Rock of Gilbratar not by spain?
Azmi must realise that Singapore was once part of Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia should have been inseparable. Singapore and Malaysia are “serumpun” by race, culture, geography, history, common legacy, etc. Azmi must realise that when Singapore was in Malaysia, there were at least two racial riots (consecutively) in 1964. Azmi must realise that Enche Othman Wok, Minister of Social Affairs, Negara Singapura, confirmed that these riots were planned, orchestrated, etc. Just like May 13 orchestrated by Razak, Harun Idris and Umno.
Azmi must realise that in the year before in 1963, Umno lost to the PAP in all Malay-majority seats of Southern Islands (Haji Yaacob Mohamed), Kampong Kembangan (Ariff Bin Suradi Mohamed) and Geylang Serai (Haji Rahmat Kenap). The Malays rejected Umno, and supported the PAP as the only correct, right, etc. party providing the correct, right solutions to the problems of the Malays. Umno did nothing, but the PAP delivered all its promises.
Azmi must realise that on the 80th birthday of MM Lee Kuan Yew in 2003, representatives from ALL walks of life were invited to his bash. One of them was a community leader by the name of Enche Ali Montain. Mr. Ali recounted how in the 1960s, Singapore had ing. But due to the leadership and policies of MM Lee, Singapore had transformed into a First World country. With tears in his eyes, Enche Ali gave his advice to the post-1965 and the younger generation to never ever forget the sacrifices of the founding fathers … You can meet Enche Ali at Pulau Ubin where he remains a community leader.
Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!
One more thing … someone like Mr. Ali Montain would never have been invited to any personal *VVIP* functions if he were to be in MALAYSIA.
Who led the Malaysian legal team at this ICJ? He should be roundly appraised by Malaysian citizens for his achievement in this suit, and ask if this legal defence justified the money spend to sustain and present the Malaysian evidences and facts.
How could that legal leader misled the Malaysian public he had a watertight case when the ICJ judges decided a 12 to 1 for Singapore. Is he legal savvy or a spendthrift or joe come lately?
The Malaysian public should dissect this legal charge….one can start by Googling the Malaysian defense/claims, and judge for themselves whether public money was spend for vacation or productive work.
It’s the simple case of the tenant who stayed too long without objections from the landlord and developed the property better…..therefore awarding the tenant the property……….will this law be translated to Malaysian real estate…..if it is…..we may have an economic boom……
Can you guys do a good job in managing the light houses in Pedra Branca and Pulau Pisang?
If you guys can, then I think Singapore is more than willing to hand over these islands to you to manage. Who doesn’t want to save cost, isn’t it?
If you guys cannot, then better leave it as they are since, base on you ‘tidak apa’ attitudes, it will spell disasters to the busy sea lane that enter and exist Singapore port.
No point you guys harping on kedaulatan, ketuanan and maruah bangsa. This is a global world, wake up lah, you guys.
The government should have fought for it back those days. May be the island will be returned. Do not judge a book by its’ cover. Do not judge a piece of rock as just a piece of rock with the lighthouse on it. This is what happens when there is no sense of value place on some assumingly unimportant rock with a name. A lighthouse saves ships from accidents and therefore it is very, very, very important. But the lighthouse or this piece of rock is in better hands now. Did I just say that ?
Well said, PetirRoket. After so many years, Umno still sleeping but not the Malays.
Malays know what is best for them, not Umno. It is just unfortunate that Umno and BN leaders still harping on racial politics and refused to acknowledge the aspiration of Rakyat.
With ownership comes the territorial waters rights….there are revenues for light house and there are revenues for clearing thru territorial waters, and so on….there you are Malaysian….
I know, got revenues, but can Malaysian do a good job first? Collect toll charges and not working, how? Ships collapse, tidak apa lah?
How can a 3rd World mentality argue and win against a 1st class nation based on merits? rais says malaysia will win? on what basis and argument? if win-win as he says, why did muhiddin says its disappointing? the fact of the case is we malaysia lost the case to singapore. not surprising coming from umno led govt.
The purpose of light house to provide sign to ships is not so important now as say compare with 90 years ago. Modern ship had sophiscated communication equipment, unlike ships say, in 1918.
Now, the presence of light house is for small boats without modern communication equipment.
Another knock out blow for our UMNO LED GOVERMENT.So much confidence that this clowns are willing to spent RM Millions to have a live coverage.I bet this ministers had bottles of champagne in their rooms to celerbrate the win…How corky can you get
Well done ICJ!
Justice Must Seen To Be Done…If the case was heard in Malaysia, the verdict will be totally the other way round! This is Malaysia Boleh! Sumua Boleh, Apa pun Boleh…as long as the case is to the benefit of UMNO and its cronies.
In Malaysia, the saying is that “if can’t beat them, change the rule or the player(judge)….hahaha, this thing don’t happen International lever and this is called “Independant of Justice” which Malaysia is lacking!
For the past 50 years, UMNO has been rampas, rampas and rampas the livinghood, shares of listed companies etc from the rakyat for their selfish gain and they branded it as “ACHIEVEMENT”.
Can you imagine, if all the victims of UMNO rampasan were to seek justice with ICJ(if allowed), what will happen to UMNO…I guess, they will bungkus-lah! Tak boleh berMaharajalelah lagi!
From this press statement by Ministry Foreign Affair Of Singapore, they clearly state that Pulau Pisang belong to Malaysia.
Source http://app.mfa.gov.sg/data/2006/press/pedra/sup.htm
Excerpt from the press statement:
Mr Abdul Khalis: Firstly, I understand that while we operate a lighthouse at Pedra Branca, we also operate a lighthouse at Pulau Pisang. While we say that Pedra Branca belongs to us, we do not have a similar position as regards to Pulau Pisang. The first question is, what are the differences in Singapore’s position with regards to Pedra Branca as opposed to Pulau Pisang? Second question: has Malaysia decided, realised or in any other way taken any steps to claim against any other island that belong to us besides Pedra Branca?
Answer: Let me first say upfront that Pulau Pisang belongs to Malaysia. We have never disputed Malaysia’s sovereignty over Pulau Pisang. But our MPA, Maritime Port Authority, however has a right to operate the lighthouse there on Pulau Pisang and the plot of land on which the lighthouse stands as well as the roadway leading to the Lighthouse was granted in perpetuity to Singapore so long as Singapore operates the lighthouse and this was in an indenture between Johor Sultan and the Straits Settlement’s Government in 1900 and we became successor to that. So Pulau Pisang, we never contested the sovereignty. Pedra Branca, we have sovereignty over it. It is ridiculous to say, as the Malaysians said, that Singapore can only operate a Lighthouse for Malaysia. I might add that, in 1968, the Malaysian objected to the flying of our flag over the lighthouse, Singapore flag, in Pulau Pisang. They objected to the flag and we took it out. But they never objected then or later to the flying of the Singapore flag in Pedra Branca.
Pulau Batu Putih pun tidak dpt urus, apa lagi PULAU BORNEO …..!!!
Malaysia land size is so many times larger than Singapore, but the latter’s economic size is 50 times larger. If we already can’t fully maximise the existing land, how much can a tiny dot of land produce? Too much waste of resources by fighting for negligable land with no resources. When can Selangor led PR start granting land to people who have interest in food plantation regardless of race to increase domestic food production during current worldwide food crisis and aleviate high inflation?
Thanks to limkamput for the correction. Thought there was a missing piece in there! Just shows my poor control of bahasa to begin with.
“..you cant judge the island’s owner by its distance,otherwise sabah and sarawak will not belong to us right?”
There are atolls just rocky outcrops in the ocean which are claimed by far-away China, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia – all flash points waiting to be ignited!
Even the distance of territorial waters is disputed.
kanasai Says:
Today at 19: 57.38 (40 minutes ago)
Malaysia land size is so many times larger than Singapore, but the latter’s economic size is 50 times larger……..
DO NOT BLOGGERS HERE ! Where did U get the figure 50 times larger?? Are U talking abt Year 2058 ??
Sorry, typing error, should be “DO NOT MISLEAD BLOGGERS HERE”
One of these days illegal foreigners in Sabah would kick the citizens out, exactly the way we lost an Island.
The citizens are now slowly driven out to W Malaysia. Jobs are slowly overtaken. Numbers are already gone. Finally, the politics will be decided by them. You think Sabahan still control Sabah?
I am glad someone is concerned about the right to this island. But, will our arrogant government ever listen to a opposition MP. Most likely not just like how they treat Singapore which is more like enemy not competitor that you learn from.
Than again our SU-30 can easily match the Singapore’s F-16 or F-18 but probably not the F-22 (thank God Singapore doesn’t have it). But, God know what type of SU-30 we got maybe just the shell and none of its bell and whistle… probably someone is more interested in negotiating commission and space fare to ride on Russians “Rockets”… if you get what I mean….
cheng on soo,kanasai…dun blame him! :-)
during TDM’s administration,he did a very stupid thing,he tried to wrestle with Lee K Y,whilst ASEAN conferencing,tis hypocrite will quote:whatever we do,prosper thy neibours!
Since he was ‘goreng pisang-turn-doctor-turn-politician,during his establishment,he should use his experiences try to negotiate with Lee K Y related to the Pulau Pisang sovereignty issue,no need to spend tax payers'(again we became victims) money and lost the Pulau Pisang,buat malu saja!
quote: “While we say that Pedra Branca belongs to us, we do not have a similar position as regards to Pulau Pisang.”
never believe the words coming from politician. hitler said before he will not invade scandinavian countries after taken czech, and jap said they would not invade china (shanghai) after taken manchuria. the politician could have believe the gov is not interest with pulau pisang, but that could not share by his colleague, and in 50 yrs later, the new batch gov could take different stand.
http://www.jeffooi.com/2007/11/malaysia_uses_plagiarists_blog.php
yes,i will show tis to patail: -:(naah)
here in the bolehland of plenty of islands tat we possessed,we cant even manage it properly,tat’s d reason why the ICJ decided to give the sovereignty of pulau pisang to singapore,inspite it’s a small rocks island!
recalling back last year’s pulau tioman tragedy,has the relevant authority still carrying out their routine checks?you bet!i think they are still sitting comfortably on their rocking-cane-chair on the seaside right now,while waiting for another tragedy to happen!
Quick, Uncle LKS, Table a motion on “To demand Singapore vacate and return Pulau Pisang within says, 6 weeks”, and see if this Ronald Kiandee will say irrelevant or whatever to reject you !
Well said daryl, maybe DPM najis is negotiating with the Russians after the recent defense expo to send the dentist in the waiting list in order to record in the history books of ketuanan race or assist in the next
election.
before the pisang island fall into singapore’s palm,i suggest that tha whole team of BN MPs (including the speakers)monkeys go there and finish all the bananas,otherwise,the days are numbered!
the gomen always take things for granted,like regarding certain states stated that non-malay is not allowed to become MB,(dun ever even think of PM candidacy),i think the main reason is they are sceptical about non-malays’ patriotism,likewise,they will only allow malays and bumi to pilot the SU-30,God knows whether could they handle it properly…..if helicopters also they couldnt!
While the country is losing Sabah to illegals…..one is concerned about Pulau Pisang!
Let me repeat and correct several points here:
To kanasai and cheng on soo, although the GDP of Singapore is larger than Malaysia’s in 2007 (USD 171 Billions compared to USD 165 Billion) and even worse the GDP per capita of Malaysia is only USD 6 k compared to Singapore’s USD 39 k. This means that the common folk down south is wealthier and better off than most Malaysians.
Therefore, although Singapore’s economy is not 50 times the size of Malaysia’s, the statistics and our own eyes can be evidence to how Singapore managed to trump us despites all the natural resources and wealth Malaysia started with. Malulah … it’s like Goliath losing to David.
The second point is, I personally feel that our team has really failed us in ICJ. First of all, if our odds are not good, why even bother to waste tax payers money to go to ICJ ? The mistakes made by the Johor Sultanate during the colonial years are irreversible. In such scenarios, it would be more prudent to quietly signed away the island or remaining status quo rather than making a big brouhaha and wastes millions of tax money.
Second, the conduct of our team is really embarrassing. Fabricated or touched up photos of the island to make it look nearer to Johor. Citing sources from blogs. Accusing the Singapore Archive of withholding documents etc etc. Ehhh !!! Hello, this is the International Court of Justice not the kangaroo courts of Malaysia.
Machiam inikah perangai “professionals” kita ?? Hanya tahu korek korek korek (lingam-speak) ….
This is our law department we talking about. Supposedly one of the most learned and prestigious. Imagine the other lower ranking government departments. *shudders*
Malaysia may have 26 million peoples, but how many are actually working??? let say half the 26 millions are children and old folks, so we only left with 13 millions, half of this are public servants and their immediate families who dont work, we left with 6.5 millions or less people who are working in Malaysia!!!
Instead of letting Singapore claiming Pulau Pisang in due course, we might be better off selling it at a price through auction, at least we get few billions ringgit or more for it rather than spending millions to fight it out in ICJ later and lose!!!
We should thank God that Singapore has maintained Pulau Pisang so well for us, without the care of Singapore, it would be occupied by pirates or “owned” by one of the cronies by now!!!
To many non-Malay working class Rakyat or the business community I spoke to, all the “space adventure” and other “ultimate ventures” initiated by UMNO/BN shows only 3 things:
1. Pure “bangang” & incompetent “mind” (lame/cacat akal)!
2. “Tuan” over others – my “people” went to space 1st!
3. Commission, “undertable” & “other bonus” from people’s money!
We can hold all other details from Rakyat, but still the Rakyat can smell a rat easily! They (umno/bn) are just lame & out dated laa………
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or doctor or whatever to realize that “space exploration” is not needed by Malaysian likewise to many other “jolly good ventures” or “mega projects” done by “them”!
Langsung takda fikir pinya! Apalahh!
I heard that the spaceman even wanna go to Mars. I don’t think we have that kind of money to buy a two-way ticket for him anymore. One way ticket for him and hope that he will stay there forever. Gone for good.