A long-standing dispute over losses faced by Malaysian fisherfolk due to land reclamation activities by Singapore near the international waterway dividing the two nations has ended. In a deal struck on April 26, 2005, Singapore agreed to pay us$98,410 to Malaysia as compensation for the fisherfolk; the compensation for each individual has been fixed at us$1,369. The deal allows Singapore to continue with reclamation work in and around the controversial Johor Straits. But it will have to ensure navigational safety and ecological protection in the area, in cooperation with Malaysia.
After the pact was signed, Malaysia withdrew its complaint to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in this regard. It had earlier held that the reclamation will affect the disputed maritime boundary between the two countries. The deal was struck after meetings in December 2004 and January 2005. Singapore's reclamation work, will end in 2010.
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