JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - SULTAN of Johor Sultan Iskandar Ismail has vowed to find ways to reclaim Pedra Branca.

Sultan Iskandar said he wanted to remind all that he had not forgotten his island and that it was rightfully under the state's sovereignty and not Singapore.

'Sampai bila masa, saya cari hatta ikhtiar balik benda itu ke Johor (It doesn't matter how long it takes, but I will find ways until the island is returned to Johor),' he said in the closing of his speech before opening the

Johor state assembly here on Thursday.

The ruler said he was confident that the state would continue to prosper economically thus bringing benefits to the people and reminded the people to reject racial or religious extremism.

The Sultan's words caught everyone off-guard.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state government 'clearly heard' what the Sultan said.

'We heard and listened loud and what he has declared,' he said, without elaborating further.

On May 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over the disputed Pedra Branca, while Malaysia owned Middle Rocks.

On the other disputed territory of South Ledge, the ICJ ruled that it belonged to the country in whose territorial waters the rocky outcrop is located.

The ICJ decision brought to a close the 28-year-old territorial dispute between both countries, and was immediately described as a 'win-win' outcome by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who led the Malaysian side at The Hague where the court is located. -- THE STAR/ANN