Important for Singapore, Malaysia to find win-win solutions: Heng Swee Keat
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat says it is important for Singapore and Malaysia to have a constructive and peaceful relationship, and find win-win solutions that benefit the peoples of both countries.
His comments, which were posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday (8 January), came hours after a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers on the ongoing maritime and airspace disputes.
Following the meeting, both countries agreed to suspend Malaysia’s permanent restricted area in the airspace over Pasir Gudang and Singapore’s implementation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport. On the maritime issues, a working group will be established to study and discuss the legal and operational matters in order to de-escalate the situation on the ground.
Deep historical, economic, cultural, people-to-people ties
Heng, who was appointed PAP’s first deputy secretary-general last month, wrote in his Facebook post, “As neighbours, Singapore and Malaysia have deep historical, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. It is important that we have a constructive and peaceful relationship and find win-win solutions that benefit the peoples of both countries.”
He confirmed reports last week saying that he and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean paid a visit to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya to discuss the recent disputes.
“Glad that, today, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his counterpart Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah reached a common understanding on initial steps to resolve airspace and maritime issues,” he wrote in his Facebook post.
“Both sides will simultaneously suspend Malaysia’s permanent Restricted Area over Pasir Gudang, and Singapore’s implementation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport, for a period of one month in the first instance. In order to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in our part of the world, the Transport Ministers from both sides will also meet soon to conduct discussions on these issues.
“On the issue of the Johor Bahru Port Limits, both sides have agreed to establish a working group of senior officials to discuss issues to de-escalate the situation on the ground, and to provide a basis for further negotiations. In addition, both countries agreed on the need to keep the situation calm in order to allow discussions to proceed in a conducive atmosphere.”
Maritime and airspace issues
The maritime dispute was ignited after Malaysia extended the Johor Bahru port limits in October, and Malaysian government vessels subsequently intruded into Singapore waters off Tuas.
Singapore lodged a strong protest with the Malaysian government, saying that Malaysia’s actions are “a serious violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.
In December, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in parliament that the government wanted to take back control of its “delegated airspace” over southern Johor, citing concerns over sovereignty and national interest. Malaysia also objected to Singapore’s publication of ILS procedures for Seletar Airport, saying it would restrict the construction of tall buildings at Johor’s Pasir Gudang.
Singapore’s transport ministry replied that cross-border airspace management is not incompatible with sovereignty.
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