On 8 Jan, Singapore and Malaysia are taking steps to alleviate their air and maritime tensions.
On the air front, Malaysia has agreed to suspend its permanent restricted area in the airspace over Pasir Gudang, while Singapore has also agreed to suspend its implementation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport.
The suspension will be in place for a month, while the transport ministers of both countries plan to meet “soon” for further discussions to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation.
On maritime issues pertaining to the two port limits, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah have agreed to set up a working group to study and discuss legal and operational matters, in order to de-escalate the situation and provide a basis for further discussions and negotiations.
The working group will be headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong and the Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob.
The two ministers are pleased with the progress made at the meeting of moving mattes forward in a calm and constructive manner.
The working group is to report to the foreign ministers within two months.
Addressing a joint press conference, both ministers also reiterated their commitment to preserve the vital relationship between the two countries and to improve bilateral ties on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
“I’m glad to be able to report that we have arrived at some agreements and we have also just as importantly reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening the vital relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, and also to improve bilateral ties on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
Like that then correct ma. Anything just talk lah. Everything can be discussed. No need pattern here, pattern there, end up everybody not happy.
If you’d like to contribute your story to us, drop us an email at editors@sureboh.sg and we’ll review it. We read each submission that comes to us within two weeks of receiving it.
