Malaysia's policy towards territorial disputes : the case study of SIPADAN-Ligitan and Batu Puteh Islands

Dublin Core

Subject

Boundary disputes
Malaysia--Boundaries--Singapore
Malaysia--Boundaries--Indonesia
Malaysia--Boundaries--Philippines

Description

Abstrak Malaysia has several maritime and teritorial disputes such as Sabah, Sipadan-Ligitan, Batu Putch, Lawas, Limbang and the Spratlys. However, Malaysia decided the disputes over the Sipadan-Ligitan and Baru Puteh Islands through the International Court of Justice (ICJ) instead of the ASEAN High Council. Therefore. this research identified the factors that influenced Malaysia's decision to settle its disputes through the ICJ. This research adopts the frameworks of foreign policy bureaucracy and intemational system in analyzing the key factors that influenced Malaysia's decision as such. It uses both primary and secondary sources of data collection. Analysis of the factors suggests that Malaysia's decision was influenced by the Prime Minister's Department. Other foreign policy bureaucracies, such as the Defence Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, had influenced the Prime Minister's decision through the institution of the National Security Council chaired by him. The National Security Council's coordinating role indicates that, despite the pivotal role of the Prime Minister as the ultimate decision maker, other foreign policy bureaucracies have been directly involved in deciding to refer the disputes to the ICJ. But, the bureaucrats' perceptions have been significantly influenced by the stalemate bilateral negotiations with disputants and the disputes' potential security challenge to stability and great power politics in the region. Finally, based on the discussion in Chapter Four, this research makes several important recommendations.

Creator

Asri Salleh

Source

KZ3684 M4ASRS

Date

2007

Contributor

mki

Rights

Universiti Malaya

Format

Dissertation