No controversy over Berhala island: Indonesia

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia are struggling to end a dispute over the offshore Ambalat area, another issue emerged recently that had the potential to further strain relations between the two countries.

But a quick response from Jakarta managed to avert any bad feelings like those created by the Ambalat issue. The Ambalat maritime area, rich in oil and gas reserves, is being claimed by both Indonesia and Malaysia.

A small island called Berhala, which has been much-promoted by Kuala Lumpur as a new haven for travelers, could have put relations between the two countries even more to the test.

Berhala island, which is being aggressively promoted by Malaysia via media and the Internet, is in fact owned by Malaysia, said Arif Havaz Oegroseno, director for international treaties and legal affairs on political, security and territorial issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry posted an official statement with a map of islands on its website on Thursday. According to the map, there are five Berhala islands between the two countries, three of which are owned by Malaysia.

One Berhala island is located in Sabah near the Philippines, another in Johor near the South China Sea, while an island named Batuan Berhala is located in Perak, the Strait of Malacca.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has two Berhala islands: one in North Sumatra province near the Strait of Malacca and another in the Lingga Singkep island chain.

Arif said that the Berhala in Lingga Singkep island chain could not be claimed by any other country as it was far from the border between Indonesia and Malaysia or Indonesia and Singapore.

The news of Berhala island appeared last week after a member of North Sumatra Legislative Council, Faudly Nurzal, expressed surprise at reading a Malaysian promotion for Berhala island.

Faudly claimed that the 2.5 kilometer wide Berhala island, located 48 miles from Belawan, was part of Serdang Bedagai district, North Sumatra.

The ministry said the Malaysian promotion for the island as a tourist destination was the Berhala island in Johor.

"It is clear that North Sumatra does not border Johor," Arif said.

He said the Malaysian government had never questioned the ownership or sovereignty of Berhala island in North Sumatra.

Malaysia was once allowed to use the island as a determining point of the border between the two countries as set in 1973.

Border issues have been a sensitive matter for Indonesia, especially after Indonesia lost Ligitan and Sipadan islands in a legal battle with Malaysia at the International Court of Justice. Both islands are located near the Ambalat area.

The Malaysian government says the area is part of its territory, while Indonesia says that Malaysia's claim is based on a map from 1979 that is not recognized by the Indonesian government nor by most other Southeast Asian countries.