Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Singapore are currently engaged in active negotiations to demarcate maritime boundaries, with discussions centered around several marine areas, all of which are guided by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has confirmed that these negotiations are progressing well, highlighted by a recent discussion session between the director-general of Malaysia's Maritime Affairs Department and their Singaporean counterparts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the negotiations are not limited to a single area but encompass various maritime border zones between the two nations, necessitating thorough examination. During a Minister's Question Time at Dewan Rakyat, Mohamad addressed a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) regarding the status of negotiations concerning Batu Puteh, Batuan Tengah, and Tubir Selatan. These areas are critical given the sovereignty, national dignity, and public trust issues involved.

Mohamad emphasized that any decisions regarding the Malaysia-Singapore maritime boundary would adhere to the international legal framework. He reiterated that UNCLOS 1982 serves as the primary basis for Malaysia in these negotiations, ensuring the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights are upheld.

In response to Mohd Isam's original query about the security situation in the Batu Puteh waters and the government's measures to address it, Mohamad pointed out that the Batu Puteh issue is governed by the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) 2008 decision. He noted that discussions occur during the annual leaders' retreat between Malaysia and Singapore, aimed at resolving maritime boundary issues amicably.

The minister assured that the negotiations strive to protect sovereign rights and occur in a constructive atmosphere between the two countries.