WE have just lost Pedra Branca to Singapore and I hope that it will be the last island we lose.

The Malaysian government must ensure that all islands, outcrops and atolls that belong to us in the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca and around Sabah and Sarawak are properly marked and documented.

We cannot afford to lose any more land.

Besides ascertaining the locations of islands, outcrops and atolls that belong to us, we must do more than just claim they belong to us.

If they are large ones, efforts must be made to encourage Malaysians to live on them and develop these places.

MOHD GHAZALI OSMAN, Ipoh

Source: NST – May 29, 2008