MALAYSIA will not ramp up tension with Singapore over the nations’ maritime dispute, but will not change its stance either, said Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong.

He said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Foreign Ministry have stated that Putrajaya wants to de-escalate the situation.

“We don’t want to further escalate the issue. There is no interest in worsening the conflict.

“We are not going to fight fire with fire, but we will not budge from our stance,” he said after the New Malaysia Rising: The Challenge of Fulfilling The Dream forum at Sunway University today.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia will not go to war with Singapore over the maritime boundary row, and that the matter will be resolved via talks or the courts.

He said it is common for neighbours to squabble over territorial claims.

“These things do happen between neighbours when claims are made,” he said during a live interview with RTM.

Liew said he will leave negotiations between the countries to take place.

“We will resolve the issue as the foreign minister (Saifuddin Abdullah) has already set up a timetable, and Singapore has expressed its preference with regard to time (when to hold the talks).

“We will let the Foreign Ministry deal with the issue.”

The dispute began when Malaysia extended the limits of one of its southern ports, with Singapore claiming that the move encroached on its waters off Tuas.

The Singaporean Home Ministry previously said Malaysia’s move serves only to heighten tensions between the countries, and that the republic is disappointed by Malaysia’s refusal to remove its ships from disputed waters, pending negotiations.

Singapore has lodged diplomatic protests, saying the extension was done unilaterally. Malaysia has maintained that the new lines are within its waters.

Singapore also said between November 24 and December 5, Malaysian vessels committed 14 intrusions into the area.

The republic has extended its own port limits, and reiterated the call for Malaysian ships to leave Singapore waters. – December 11, 2018.