That is when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to deliver its ruling on the sovereignty dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, following six months of deliberation.

Both countries have staked a claim to Pedra Branca, which the Malaysians call Pulau Batu Puteh, an island the size of a football field about 40km east of Singapore and home to Horsburgh Lighthouse.

They agreed in 2003 to refer the dispute to the ICJ in The Hague, in the Netherlands.

Both sides made oral representations before the United Nations body during a three-week hearing late last year.

Professor Jayakumar, CJ Chan, Ambassador Koh and then-attorney-general Chao Hick Tin addressed the 16-member court then, together with international counsel acting for Singapore.

Mr Chao returned to the Bench as a Judge of Appeal last month.

On May 23, the ICJ commences its public hearing at 10am Netherlands time (4pm Singapore time).

The court's acting president, Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, will then read out the judgment concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca and its two outcrops, known as the Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

The Singapore delegation to The Hague on May 23 will include officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Attorney-General's Chambers, the MFA said in a statement yesterday.

Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to abide by the court's ruling, a point reiterated last month when Foreign Minister George Yeo hosted a visit here by his newly appointed Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.

They also said that whatever the outcome, the court's ruling would not affect bilateral relations.