The Malaysian Insight

THE latest row between Malaysia and Singapore over airspace and maritime boundaries will unlikely ruin the two countries’ longstanding friendship, international relations experts say.

Pacific Research Centre Malaysia principle adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said territorial disputes were not uncommon between Malaysia and Singapore and that there was a pattern of how these tiffs are resolved.

“Usually, it is public proclamations of violation of sovereignty, followed by intensive bilateral negotiations, failing which it would be mutual submission for arbitration or adjudication.

“This actually sets a very good example as to how neighbouring countries can resolve their territorial disputes maturely and peacefully,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Since early this week, Malaysia and Singapore have been arguing over airspace and maritime boundaries.

On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat that a protest note would be sent to Singapore to object the island republic’s plan to use airspace over southern Johor for flight operations at Seletar Airport, and that Putrajay would start talks to reclaim the delegated airspace.

He had said Singapore, without Malaysia’s consent, on December 1 issued new Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for the Seletar Airport to be enforced starting January 3 next year.

Malaysia said the new ILS procedures would jeopardise development in Pasir Gudang, Johor. This was immediately denied by Singapore’s Transport Ministry.

Also on Tuesday, Singapore lodged a “strong protest” with Putrajaya for changing the port limits of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

The republic said Malaysia had extended the port limits significantly eastward beyond the territorial sea claim in the area made in Malaysia’s 1979 map.

Singapore urged Malaysia to stop further unilateral action and to amend the government gazette notification published late last month “to reflect the sovereignty of Singapore over the waters in question”. 

Singapore’s Transport Ministry also said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Department Malaysia vessels had repeatedly intruded into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas in the past two weeks.

It was reported that the foreign ministers of both countries talked on the phone about the dispute on Wednesday, while Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad denied that Malaysia had breached Singapore’s border.

Yesterday, Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said Singapore was extending it port limits off Tuas and would “not hesitate to take firm action” against intrusions to protect its territory and sovereignty.

Despite the strong words used by the Singaporean minister, Universiti Malaya lecturer Dr K.S. Balakrishnan said it was a “normal statement”.

“The problem exists, but it is minor,” said the academic from UM’s International and Strategic Studies Department.

“Both countries have good defence and security relations. Issues will be resolved normally through consultations,” he said.

Former Malaysia foreign deputy minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican said any contentious matter between two countries should be resolved through closed-door negotiations instead of playing it out in the media.

He said if a dispute was actively discussed in the media, it could risk creating pre-judgment and derailing talks.

“It will not lead to healthy discussions for a good solution benefiting both sides (if the issue is played up in the media),” the Kepala Batas MP from Barisan Nasional said.

“Malaysia’s approach in settling disputes has always been through negotiations. I believe the approach is still the same. It is up to our officers and the ministers involved to find an amicable solution.

“We must allow closed-door negotiations to proceed in the right perspective.

“There is no reason why we can’t resolve the issue.” – December 7, 2018.