SINGAPORE today said it was ready to hold talks with Malaysia on the dispute over the maritime boundary, but wants Malaysian government vessels to cease intrusions and return to the status quo before October 25, 2018.
Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his country agreed to Malaysia’s proposal that officials from the two sides meet to work towards an amicable resolution, and will follow up.
He also confirmed receiving Malaysia’s note yesterday disagreeing with the assertion that the altered Johor Baru port limits had encroached on Singapore territorial waters off Tuas, and emphasising that Malaysian government vessels were patrolling the territorial waters of Malaysia.
Khaw said that Singapore’s view had always been that the boundary line dispute over the Johor Baru port limits could only be settled in accordance with international law and practice, through consultations between the governments involved.
“Our security agencies will continue to patrol the area, and respond to unauthorised activities on the ground. They have so far responded with restraint against aggressive actions by Malaysian government vessels.
“But Singapore cannot allow our sovereignty to be violated, or new facts on the ground to be created. Therefore, if it becomes necessary, we will not hesitate to take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities in our waters to protect our territory and sovereignty,” he said in a statement.
Khaw said that countries did amend their port limits from time to time, but they had to do so in a way that did not contravene international law, or infringe on the sovereignty of another country.
He said that this violation of Singapore’s sovereignty was a new serious issue in bilateral relations with Malaysia.
“Singapore seeks friendly relations and close cooperation with Malaysia.
“Prime Minister Dr Mahathir had just visited Singapore in November, and held fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“Lee flagged this issue with Dr Mahathir as one that could affect our bilateral relationship.
“Unfortunately, further developments since then have made the situation more serious.”
Khaw added that Singapore’s position with Malaysia had always been clear and consistent, that is, to uphold international law and respect bilateral agreements, and to protect and defend Singapore’s territorial sovereignty.
“Singapore will not hesitate to take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities in our waters.”
Narrating the sequence of events that led to the maritime boundary dispute, Khaw said that on October 25, 2018, Malaysia had unilaterally and arbitrarily extended the Johor Baru port limits, going beyond “what even Malaysia itself claimed as its territorial waters”.
He said Singapore had been exercising its jurisdiction in the waters now covered by the recent extension of the Johor Baru port limits since 1999.
“We have been patrolling the area regularly, and protested any intrusions or unauthorised activities. Malaysia has never laid claim to these waters, or protested our actions there.
“Now, out of the blue, Malaysia is claiming these territorial waters that belong to Singapore. Without any prior consultation, Malaysia is seeking to unilaterally alter the long-standing status quo in the area.
“This is a blatant provocation and a serious violation of our sovereignty and international law.”
He said that Malaysia continued to ignore Singapore protests over the expanded Johor Baru port limits.
Khaw said that there had been 14 intrusions into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas in the past two weeks.
The minister also announced that Singapore had decided to extend its port limits off Tuas.
“In view of these recent provocative developments, we have decided to extend the Singapore port limits off Tuas via Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port Limits) (Amendment) Notification 2018,” said Khaw.
“This extension is well within Singapore’s territorial waters, and tracks the eastern boundary of the 1999 Johor Baru port limits.
“The gazette takes effect from today.”
Last night, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry issued a protest note to Singapore, rejecting Singapore’s allegations that the move to extend the Johor Baru port limits “has resulted in the encroachment of the port limits in Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, or that it is a violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.
“The government of Malaysia affirms that the new Johor Baru port limits are within Malaysia’s territorial sea.
“Further, 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,” said the Foreign Ministry press release.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad played down the ongoing airspace and maritime boundary disputes with Singapore by saying that differences will only “help us grow even faster”. – December 6, 2018.
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