This story was printed from TODAYonline 
Malaysian politicians upset over ICJ ruling
Tuesday • May 27, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian politicians have stepped up their “republic-bashing” — as the Malaysian media puts it — following the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision on Pedra Branca last Friday.
In Parliament yesterday, there was no support for the official position that the ICJ’s decision was a win-win for Singapore and Malaysia, reported news portal The Malaysian Insider.
Johor Members of Parliament (MPs), especially, had much to say about the loss of the outcrop of rocks to Singapore.
Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said that sovereignty fell to the Republic as a result of Malaysia failing to keep a proper record of its historical documents.
The government, he noted, could not locate a letter from the British seeking permission from the Johor governmentto build a lighthouse on the island.
The letter was a piece of “valuable evidence” which could have swung the case in Malaysia’s favour, he added.
Another MP, Hamim Samuri, said: “We must watch Singapore’s activities on our territory. We have to monitor Pulau Merambung which is near Tuas in Singapore.”
He added that Malaysia had to ensure that Pulau Pisang remains in Malaysian hands.
:“Singapore being awarded the island will certainly bring a lot of hardship for our fishermen in Johor waters,” Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) vice-president Nasharuddin Mat Isa was quoted as saying by :The Star: newspaper.
PAS is set to table a motion in Parliament today to debate the ICJ’s ruling.