A UN court told Singapore and Malaysia yesterday to resolve a dispute themselves with the help of experts over a land reclamation drive in waters separating the two countries.

The Hamburg-bassed International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that the neighbours should appoint a panel of independent experts to examine Singapore's project in the Straits of Johor, which Malaysia claims would damage the environment.

It said the panel should conduct a study within the next year on "the effects of Singapore's land reclamation and propose, as appropriate, measures to deal with any adverse effects of such land reclamation".

The court ordered Singapore to ensure in the meantime that its construction work has no irreparable effects "on the rights of Malaysia or serious harm to the marine environment" in the affected waters.

Pay legal costs

Each country was told to pay its own legal costs.

The land reclamation case has been simmering for months, with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad saying it affected the environment, the livelihood of Malaysian fishermen and the maritime border.

Officials have also charged that the project could obstruct ships headed for ports in Malaysia's southern state of Johor, which are being promoted to rival Singapore's port.

Relations between the neighbours have often been prickly since Singapore became independent of the Malaysian federation in 1965. - AFP