No controversy over Berhala island: Indonesia

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.