“No doubt it’s easy to boost political support by accusing another country, like the statement made by Lee Hsien Loong at a PAP (Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party) convention.

“However, unlike him, Malaysia always takes issues of sovereignty seriously and not solely to win support during a general election or political convention,” Khairy said in a statement today.

Yesterday, while addressing a PAP convention for party activists, Lee expressed surprise at Putrajaya’s decision to challenge the 2008 decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to award Pulau Batu Puteh, known as Pedra Branca to Singapore, to the republic.

“I thought the issue was permanently settled long ago with the International Court of Justice ruling in 2008, which awarded Pedra Branca to Singapore.

“But almost a decade later, the Malaysians are going to the ICJ again, asking the court to reinterpret and to revise the judgment.

“I’m not sure what Malaysia’s motive is, but their general election is coming, which may have something to do with it,” he was quoted as saying by the Singapore media.

Khairy described Lee’s comment as an “irresponsible allegation that could damage the good ties between Malaysia and Singapore”.

On Feb 2, 2017, Malaysia filed an application seeking a revision of the ICJ judgement on Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge in the Straits of Johor.

Malaysia said it had discovered three documents in a British archives which lent support to a fresh application.

Khairy said the period between the discovery of the documents in August 2016 and the filing at the ICJ this year was just six months.

“That application and the second one made on June 30, 2017 for a revision of the judgement were not made lightly without a strong basis.

“Recall that the Malaysian Parliament has not yet been dissolved to date, more than a year after the discovery of the new facts,” said Khairy in rebutting the claim that the two events were related.