MALAYSIA and Singapore’s transport ministers have agreed on a “way forward” to resolve their airspace dispute, sparking hopes that the two-month stalemate will end soon.

Anthony Loke, in a Facebook post, said a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Khaw Boon Wan, today was “fruitful and constructive”, and saw both parties agreeing on a way to resolve the issue concerning the airspace over the republic’s Seletar Airport.

He did not provide details on the deal reached.

“We agreed on the way forward to resolve the Seletar Airport issue, and the civil aviation authority of both countries will continue the discussion on technical aspects,” he said in the post, which was accompanied by a picture of him and Khaw.

Khaw, in his own Facebook post, called the meeting – the third between the ministers – “a heart-to-heart discussion”, adding that they plan to meet again after Chinese New Year next month.

“This is the third time we’ve met, after the meetings in Putrajaya and Bangkok last year.

“Loke and I will meet again, after Lunar New Year, to continue the airspace discussion.”

He said he suggested an extension of the earlier suspension of Malaysia’s restricted area over Pasir Gudang and Singapore’s instrument landing system (ILS) procedures at Seletar Airport “to give our officials more discussion time to reach a win-win outcome”.

“He (Loke) will take my suggestion back to his cabinet colleagues.”

Earlier this month, the countries’ foreign ministers met to discuss the airspace dispute, as well as a brewing maritime spat. Following that meeting, Malaysia and Singapore announced a month-long suspension of ILS and the restricted area so as to facilitate talks.

Malaysia is of the view that the new landing procedures at Seletar Airport will hamper the construction of skyscrapers in Johor’s Pasir Gudang, located north of the airport. Singapore has disputed the claim.

In the sea row, Malaysia’s extension of Johor port limits had led to what Singapore called the “intrusion” of Malaysian vessels in the republic’s waters. – January 23, 2019.