Singapore extends port limits, claims intrusions by M’sian vessels

SINGAPORE: Singapore claims that Malaysian government vessels have been intruding into its territorial waters off Tuas, with 14 such incidents so far.

“Singapore protested the repeated intrusions via three TPNs (Third Person Note),” the republic’s Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan said in a statement yesterday.

He said in view of recent provocative developments, Singapore has decided to extend the Singapore Port Limits off Tuas via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ( Port Limits) ( Amendment) Notification 2018.

“This extension is well within Singapore Territorial Waters, and tracks the eastern boundary of the 1999 Johor Baru Port Limits,” he said, adding the gazette took effect from yesterday.

In a statement earlier yesterday, Wisma Putra affirmed that the new Johor Baru port limits were within Malaysia’s territorial sea.

“It is well within the government of Malaysia’s right to draw any port limit in its territorial sea in accordance with Malaysia’s own national laws.

“As such, the government of Malaysia refutes the view that Malaysia’s government vessels had intruded into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas,” Wisma Putra said.

Wisma Putra proposed that a meeting be convened with Singapore to discuss the airspace and maritime boundary issues.

Khaw noted that Singapore’s position with Malaysia “has always been clear and consistent” as “we uphold international law and respect bilateral agreements”.

“We will protect and defend Singapore’s territorial sovereignty. Singapore will not hesitate to take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities in our waters,” he added.

Wisma Putra said the meeting would try to resolve the Instrument Landing System (ILS) issue.

The issue was raised after Singapore broadcast its ILS and ILS Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) on Dec 1 without the agreement of Malaysia.

The republic claimed that Malaysia recently purported to extend the Johor Baru port limits which encroaches into Singapore Territorial Waters off Tuas. — Bernama