Documents partially released to address media queries on airspace issue, says MOT
Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Monday (9 December) that the reason it released several documents related to the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport was to address media queries on 4 December.
It said that the media had wanted to know whether the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) had consulted its Malaysian counterpart on this matter as early as December 2017. The media queries had arose after Malaysia claimed on 4 December that the ILS issue had come to their attention only two months ago in October.
‘Selective’ release of documents, says M’sian Transport Minister
MOT was responding to comments made on Monday by Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke that it was “partial and selective” in the release of documents regarding the bilateral dispute over the use of Malaysian airspace. Malaysia had objected to the broadcasting of Seletar Airport’s ILS, as it bids to protect the sovereignty of airspace and development around Pasir Gudang in Johor.
Loke said in a statement, “The disclosure is only partial and selective with the primary aim of influencing public opinion.
“Malaysia’s Transport Ministry hereby urges Singapore’s Transport Ministry to also release the letters from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to its Singaporean counterpart CAAS dated 9 October, 15 November, 21 November and 28 November.
“Failing which we are prepared to release the letters for full disclosure of such information for the public’s comprehension of our stand on the same.”
Useful for documents to be kept confidential
However, MOT said that Singapore’s view is that it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential “to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges”. This is why it has not released any other correspondence between Singapore and Malaysia on this matter. It added that Loke had expressed a similar view on 4 December.
MOT said it has no objection if Malaysia feels that it is necessary to release correspondence on this matter. However, it observed that the Malaysia Ministry of Transport has only mentioned its letters from October and November this year.
“For transparency, Malaysia should ensure that all correspondence and records of discussions between Singapore and Malaysia be published, including the record of discussion of the latest meeting between the two countries on 29 and 30 November,” it said.
Firefly suspended all flights to Seletar Airport
Tensions between the two countries over Seletar Airport came to light on 23 November, when Malaysian budget carrier Firefly announced that it would suspend all flights to Singapore from 1 December, the day it was supposed to move its turbo-prop flight operations from Changi to Seletar Airport.
Two days later, CAAS explained that this was because it had not received approval from CAAM to make the move. According to CAAM, there are regulatory and outstanding airspace issues that need to be resolved over the proposed move.
Malaysia is seeking to reclaim its airspace in phases between 2019 and 2023. This includes management of the airspace over southern Johor, of which was delegated to Singapore in 1974.
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