Pulau Batu Putih News From NST

Pulau Pisang won't be another Batu Puteh - The NST

JOHOR BARU: Pulau Pisang, which has a lighthouse operated by Singapore, will not turn into another Batu Puteh case as Malaysia has sovereignty over the island.
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The island, which lies off the west coast of Pontian, is listed in the Johor Land Office Registry while Singapore only has ownership of the lighthouse, a jetty and the access road linking both structures.

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In assuring Malaysians that the island would not fall into Singaporean hands, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the status of the lighthouse and island was stated in a 1900 agreement between Johor's Sultan Ibrahim and the British colonial government that administered Singapore.

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Johor Pas Youth, meanwhile, wants the government to take over the administration of the lighthouse.

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The 1900 agreement stipulates that the British were allowed to build a lighthouse on a 0.4ha plot, and a jetty and an access road, both of which collectively take up another 0.4ha.

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Abdul Ghani said: "In 2002, the government tightened conditions and procedures for the lighthouse crew. "They were to register with the Marine Department, the Immigration Department and the Customs Department office in Kukup. Every change of shift between the lighthouse crews has to be registered in Kukup.

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"These procedures could be taken as Malaysia exercises control over Pulau Pisang. A report in a Malay daily had quoted Pontian member of Parliament Ahmad Maslan as urging the government to cement Pulau Pisang's status as Malaysian territory.

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Abdul Ghani said Pulau Pisang had 154ha of orchards owned by 82 villagers from Pontian.

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There is also a marine police base on Pulau Pisang for the authorities to watch over its waters and that of nearby Pulau Tunda, Kemudi and Sauh.

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"Our fishermen can go to Pulau Pisang to fish," Abdul Ghani said.