‘We’ll send protest note to Singapore’

MALAYSIA wil send a protest note to Singapore over Seletar Airport’s new Instrument Landing System (ILS), which has been linked to the barring of Malaysia’s budget airline Firefly from relocating to the airport.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the government had decided not to allow Singapore to broadcast its ILS, with the decision conveyed to Singapore on Nov 28 and 29.

“However, Singapore began broadcasting its ILS’ Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) on Dec 1, to be fully enforced on Jan 3. This is against the principle of national sovereignty as accorded under the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

“If ILS’ broadcast is allowed, it would jeopardise Pasir Gudang’s development as each building or structure would need to abide by height restrictions imposed by international standards.

“The broadcast would also jeopardise shipping operations around the port. To ensure the sovereignty of our airspace and ensure development at Pasir Gudang is not jeopardised, the government has made the decision not to allow Singapore to broadcast ILS.

“As a result of Singapore’s decision to broadcast, the Foreign Ministry will issue a protest note to Singapore,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Loke was replying to a question from Hassan Abdul Karim (PKRPasir Gudang) over the government’s response to Singapore’s move to boost development at Seletar Airport, which may jeopardise Pasir Gudang’s development.

Seletar Airport is located 2km from the border in Johor.

On Nov 24, it was reported that Firefly was unable to obtain approval from Malaysia’s regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, to operate from the airport. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said Firefly informed Changi Airport Group — the operator of Seletar Airport — of this on Nov 14.