SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (March 31) said he was “confident” of the eventual outcome of Malaysia’s recent challenge to the Pedra Branca judgment.

“Malaysia is now taking steps to revise that judgment. They are entitled to try, but it is our Government’s duty to defend Singapore’s interests in accordance with international law,” said Mr Lee, during his speech at an event celebrating the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) 150th anniversary.

“I am confident of the eventual outcome, because we have a capable and experienced team in the AGC ... and furthermore, we have a strong case. So I think we’re all right,” he added.

In February, Malaysia filed an application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to review its 2008 judgment awarding the tiny island to Singapore.

According to Malaysia, it had “new facts”, originating from three documents recently discovered in the United Kingdom’s national archive, which it said would have had resulted in a “different conclusion” by the court.

The row over the ownership of Pedra Branca dates back to 1979, when Malaysia published a map indicating the island to be within the country’s territorial waters. Singapore lodged a formal protest with Malaysia in early 1980.

It took more than 20 years for the dispute to be brought before the ICJ in July 2003. In May 2008, after several rounds of written pleadings and public hearings, the court ruled Pedra Branca to be Singapore territory.

In his speech, Mr Lee said he felt that the Pedra Branca dispute was the best example of the AGC’s work in its role as Singapore’s international lawyer.

Calling the litigation “unprecedented in its scale and complexity”, with the disputed facts spanning 300 years, Mr Lee said that the AGC officers who worked on the case displayed “professionalism and dedication to the highest degree”.

One of them was Senior Judge Chan Sek Keong, who led the team as Attorney-General, and appeared before the ICJ as Chief Justice, noted Mr Lee.

“The outcome in our favour reflected their efforts and their capability,” he added.