Malaysia promotes disputed island

Malaysia promotes disputed island

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia promoted Sipadan, an island also
claimed by Indonesia, as one of its tourist paradises during the
recent Berlin Tourism Bourse, a press report said yesterday.

Indonesian consul general in Berlin Indra M. Damanik was
quoted by Antara as saying Tuesday that Malaysia had claimed
Sipadan as its territory.

"It's a daring promotion because the territorial dispute over
the Sipadan Island has not yet been settled," Damanik said.

Indonesia and Malaysia have overlapping sovereignty claims on
Sipadan and Ligitan, two small islands off the eastern coast of
Borneo.

Years of negotiations have failed to reach an agreement. Last
year the two countries agreed to take the dispute to the Hague-
based International Court of Justice.

The two countries agreed that until an acceptable solution was
reached, no party was allowed to develop the islands.

At the Berlin Tourism Bourse, held from March 8 to March 12,
Malaysia distributed brochures on Sipadan island, describing it
as a divers' paradise.

The brochures were illustrated with color pictures of divers,
exotic turtles and fish and a map showing the locations of
Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.

At the expo, Malaysia, Indonesia and other members of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations occupied the same
exhibition hall.

Before Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur decided to take their dispute
to the International Court of Justice, Indonesia had wanted a
political solution. The Malaysian government, however, had
insisted that the court would provide the best solution. (pan)