[Update: Added Feb 10 statement by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore]
Singapore’s foreign ministry sent out a strongly-worded statement on Sunday asking Malaysia to remove its vessels off waters that Singapore recognizes as theirs.
The statement comes one day after Malaysian vessel Polaris collided with Greece-flagged vessel Pireas in what Singapore recognizes as its own territorial waters off the port of Tuas.
These are waters that Malaysia has claimed are theirs in a war of words and map lines that has been going on between both countries for months.
“Singapore reiterates its call for Malaysia to withdraw its vessels from the area, as the persistent presence of its vessels clearly poses a threat to safety of navigation in the area,” said a spokesperson from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
“As we have said previously, Malaysia will be responsible for any untoward situations on the ground that arise from continued deployment of its vessels into this area,” the spokesperson added.
In the collision incident which happened on Saturday afternoon, the Greece vessel was on its way from Singapore to its next port of call at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia when it collided with the Malaysian vessel, according to a statement by Singapore’s Marine and Port Authority (MPA).
“MPA is deeply concerned that the presence of the unauthorized vessels in our port limits can cause confusion for the international shipping community and threaten navigational safety in our waters,” said an MPA spokesperson in a statement on Saturday.
In a follow-up statement on Sunday, MPA said that the Greece vessel Pireas was trying to make a maneuver to get out of the waters when it collided with Polaris.
No injuries or oil leakage were reported and the collision was not considered as a very serious marine casualty incident under the International Maritime Organization Marine Casualty Investigation Code, hence Pireas was allowed to continue on its journey to Tanjung Pelepas, MPA added.
MPA is continuing investigations on the matter.
In a statement released earlier, Malaysia’s foreign ministry said: “Malaysia is committed to take appropriate measures to safeguard its territorial integrity, interests and safe navigation of vessels”.
According to Malaysia’s foreign ministry, the boats communicated before the accident, and the Greek carrier had said it would steer clear of the Malaysian boat.
The incident is the latest in a string of back-and-forth remarks that have been traded between Singapore and Malaysian authorities over airspace and maritime disputes, which have led to incursions such as a Malaysian chief minister entering the disputed waters and discussions derailed over a joint development project between both countries.
Both countries are disputing a water boundary off the Tuas region after Singapore politician Khaw Boon Wan told Malaysian vessels to “back off” and stop trespassing Singapore territorial waters.
Malaysia also protested Singapore’s decision to implement new landing procedures at Singapore’s Seletar Airport, calling it an “intrusion of Malaysia’s sovereign airspace” as planes would be flying over southern Johor.
Both countries’ foreign diplomats have resolved to settle the matter through bilateral talks.
The neighbors have had testy relations since Malaysia evicted the island from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, ending a brief and stormy union of the former British colonies.
Ties have gone up and down over the years but have been shaky since Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad — who has long had a prickly relationship with Singapore — returned to the premiership with a shock election victory last year.
Additional reporting by AFP
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