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©Bernama (Used by permission)
by Mohd Haikal Isa

JOHOR BAHARU, July 25 (Bernama) -- Over the past two years, Zaaba Abdul Samad has been relentless in his mission to trace the elusive letter seeking permission to build a lighthouse on Pulau Batu Puteh.

The letter, written by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, William John Butterworth, to the Sultan and Temenggung of Johor in 1844, is crucial in Malaysia's pursuit to reclaim the island called Pedra Branca because it not only touches on the British seeking permission but is also proof of the country's sovereign right over the rocky outcrop.

Zaaba, a committee member of the Johor Historical Society, said his "national quest" for the 164-year-old letter was voluntary in nature because of his penchant for historical documents and national heritage.

"In my quest, I have met the descendants of the Temenggung of Muar who are still living in Muar and Segamat and also the descendants of the Johor royal house with the hope of retrieving the letter.

"I have also met many individuals throughout Johor who claimed that they have many historical documents in their possession, but ironically until now the lost letter could not be found," he told Bernama here today.

In May, the International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled that Singapore has sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh while Malaysia owns Middle Rocks, and South Ledge belongs to the state in whose territorial waters it is located.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim had said that Malaysia would keep on looking and would only file a petition to reclaim Pedra Branca if the relevant documents, including the 1844 letter, could be found.

For Zaaba, although his efforts so far had been in vain, they did not dampen his spirit from scouring for the letter throughout Johor as he considered it his duty to the country.

He said that he still received information from various parties in Johor on historical documents said to be in the possession of individuals, including the 1844 letter.

Zaaba said he had reasons to believe that the letter from Butterworth, who was then based in Singapore, is still in the republic.

One of the reasons was that the British Imperial Government which had sovereignty over Singapore then had good documentation safekeeping through its museums and archives.

Zaaba said he would also seek the help of the descendants of the Johor sultanate living in Singapore as he believed they kept many historical documents.

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