ANWAR Ibrahim said Malaysia will maintain cordial relations with Singapore while negotiating to resolve airspace and maritime disputes with Singapore.
 
“We want to maintain cordial, reasonable relations with Singapore but there are outstanding issues where our interest is to protect Malaysian interest,” he told reporters in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur today.  

The PKR president, who is slated to be prime minister in two years, said Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah is tasked to resolve the disputes through negotiations. 

“This you must remember. There were occasions in the past when we felt Malaysian interests were not adequately protected. And I think the position of the cabinet, which I support fully, is to ensure that our position, our interests, are being protected. 

“But we are not engaging in a rancorous exchange with them. I think the foreign minister has been entrusted to ensure that we continue to negotiate.” 

Wisma Putra said in a statement today that Transport Minister Anthony Loke is set to meet his Singaporean counterpart Khaw Boon Wan “in the coming weeks” to discuss airspace-related issues, including the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and ILS approach procedures for Singapore’s Seletar Airport.

Foreign Ministry secretary-general Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob will also meet the Singaporean Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Chee Wee Kiong on January 28.

“The government of Malaysia is committed to resolve bilateral issues with the government of Singapore in a peaceful and calm manner,”  the statement said.

It said Saifuddin met his counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan during the Asean retreat in Chiang Mai on Thursday.

Malaysia is opposed to the new landing procedures at Selatar Airpot because they would hamper the construction of tall building in Pasir Gudang to the north of the airport. Singapore has disputed this. 

Another subject of contention is Malaysia’s extension of the Johor Baru port border limits, which Singapore views as intrusion into its waters. – January 19, 2019.