Singapore, KL seek talks to resolve dispute

AS THE stand-off between Singapore and Malaysia over maritime boundaries enters its second week, leaders on both sides have made calls for talks to resolve the simmering dispute.

However, both countries have their own views on how to do so and the way forward.

Weighing in for the first time, Singapore’s Minister of Finance Heng Swee Keat said on Sunday that the intrusions by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore territorial waters are a “violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.

He urged Malaysia to cease the intrusions to avoid escalating tensions, making clear Singapore would defend its sovereignty and territory.

He added in a Facebook post: “I hope that Singapore and Malaysia discuss issues constructively and peacefully, in compliance with international law. This will benefit peoples of both countries.”

Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli also called the intrusions “provocative and unacceptable”, adding that Singapore needed to stay firm to defend its sovereignty.

“Above all, we must maintain good relations and resolve this issue in a peaceful and diplomatic manner,” he said in a Facebook post.

Their remarks came a day after Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said Singapore welcomed talks to resolve the matter.

“The Singapore government is hopeful that through the engagement of both countries, the governments of Malaysia and Singapore can reach a swift and amicable resolution to this dispute.

“If such talks do not eventually produce an amicable resolution, the Singapore government would be prepared for this matter to be settled by recourse to an appropriate international third-party dispute settlement procedure,” he said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had last Saturday signalled Kuala Lumpur’s plan to pursue negotiations to resolve the matter.

Mohamad did not address the Malaysian Foreign Ministry’s proposal last Friday for both sides to “cease and desist” from sending assets into the area, which Singapore had said it did not agree with.

On October 25, Malaysia published a notice in the Federal Government Gazette to extend the Johor Bahru port limits.

The new lines encroach into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas. And they go beyond Malaysia’s territorial claims, which it published in a 1979 map that Singapore has not agreed to.

Singapore has lodged diplomatic protests over the new port limits, but Malaysia has maintained they are within its territorial waters.

Between November 24 and December 5, there were 14 intrusions by Malaysian government vessels into the area, which Singapore regards as its territorial waters.

Si ngapore’s Mi n i st r y of Tra nspor t made t he issue known to the public last Tuesday, saying that the Republic had protested aga i nst t he unauthorised movements of, and assertions of sovereignty by, these vessels, which are inconsistent with international law.

On Thursday, Singapore extended its own port limits, and reiterated its call for Malaysian ships to leave Singapore territorial waters.

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah said on Friday that Malaysia had sent the draft agenda for a meeting aimed at the resolution of the maritime boundary issues and said his government hoped the meeting could be held some time in the middle of this month.