AN agreement between Putrajaya and Singapore to suspend all overlapping port limit claims has not been implemented as two Malaysian vessels remain anchored in the disputed territorial waters, reports ChannelNewsAsia (CNA).

Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament yesterday that terms of an agreement to de-escalate tensions in the maritime dispute between both countries could not be implemented as long as the ships remain.

“There are two Malaysian government vessels which I believe are still anchored there at this point in time, so the terms of agreement have not been implemented yet,” Vivian was quoted as saying by CNA.

“We hope that the recommendations will be implemented as soon as possible within the agreed time frame. This will allow the ground situation to be de-escalated, and then both sides can embark on maritime boundary delimitation negotiations.”

Both countries agreed last month to suspend the implementation of their overlapping expanded port limits in the Johor Straits, defusing a maritime dispute that started in December.

On October 25, Malaysia extended the Johor Baru port limit over unclaimed waters and to the edge of the Singapore port limit.

Singapore responded on December 6 by extending its port limit into the same unclaimed waters, creating an overlap.

According to the agreement, both governments also agreed not to anchor government vessels in the disputed waters, as well as suspend commercial activities there.

All of the measures were to be implemented within one month, by April 14.

Vivian said that the agreement was a positive step towards resolving the conflict, and said he believed both sides remained committed to continuing negotiations.

“(It) is reflective of Singapore’s commitment to resolve our issues with Malaysia in a calm and rational and amicable manner, in accordance with international law, and to nurture this very important bilateral relationship whilst safeguarding our national interests,” he said.

“This is a process that will take time, but both sides are committed to negotiate in good faith and in the event that we are unable to arrive at an amicable solution on delimitation, we may mutually agree to resort to an appropriate international third-party dispute settlement procedure.” – April 2, 2019.