Malaysia promotes disputed island<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia promoted Sipadan, an island also
\nclaimed by Indonesia, as one of its tourist paradises during the
\nrecent Berlin Tourism Bourse, a press report said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian consul general in Berlin Indra M. Damanik was
\nquoted by Antara as saying Tuesday that Malaysia had claimed
\nSipadan as its territory.<\/p>\n
"It's a daring promotion because the territorial dispute over
\nthe Sipadan Island has not yet been settled," Damanik said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Malaysia have overlapping sovereignty claims on
\nSipadan and Ligitan, two small islands off the eastern coast of
\nBorneo.<\/p>\n
Years of negotiations have failed to reach an agreement. Last
\nyear the two countries agreed to take the dispute to the Hague-
\nbased International Court of Justice.<\/p>\n
The two countries agreed that until an acceptable solution was
\nreached, no party was allowed to develop the islands.<\/p>\n
At the Berlin Tourism Bourse, held from March 8 to March 12,
\nMalaysia distributed brochures on Sipadan island, describing it
\nas a divers' paradise.<\/p>\n
The brochures were illustrated with color pictures of divers,
\nexotic turtles and fish and a map showing the locations of
\nMalaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.<\/p>\n
At the expo, Malaysia, Indonesia and other members of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations occupied the same
\nexhibition hall.<\/p>\n
Before Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur decided to take their dispute
\nto the International Court of Justice, Indonesia had wanted a
\npolitical solution. The Malaysian government, however, had
\ninsisted that the court would provide the best solution. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-promotes-disputed-island-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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