Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to continue talks with Singapore on other bilateral issues, despite a postponed meeting about a joint development project because a state chief minister reportedly intruded a disputed water boundary between Singapore and Malaysia.
In a press release by Malaysia’s foreign ministry released on Twitter on Sunday, the ministry confirmed the postponement of the joint annual meeting over the Iskandar Malaysia joint development project, in which Singapore is a top investor in.
“The reason for the postponement, as conveyed by Singapore… was due to the visit by (Johor chief minister) Dato’ Osman Sapian to Johor Bahru port in Malaysian territorial waters,” said a spokesperson from Malaysia’s foreign ministry.
PRESS RELEASE:
MALAYSIA’S STATEMENT ON THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 14TH MEETING OF THE JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE FOR ISKANDAR MALAYSIA pic.twitter.com/ML9cf5cNZt— Wisma Putra (@MalaysiaMFA) January 13, 2019
In a press release yesterday, Singapore’s foreign ministry said that the meeting was “untenable” because Dato’ Osman allegedly intruded Singapore waters instead.
The chief minister has gone on record to say that he denies entering Singapore waters and that his visit was merely to observe a Malaysian ship that he claims is on Malaysian waters.
The dispute has been dragging on for months now after Singapore told Malaysia to “back off” and stop allowing their ships to intrude Singapore waters. Malaysia has also protested against Singapore’s plans to implement new landing procedures at a small airport in Kuala Lumpur.
Calm for both sides
In the Sunday press release by the Malaysian foreign ministry, a spokesperson said that its economic affairs minister Azman Ali will still meet Singapore’s national development minister Lawrence Wong and foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan to discuss bilateral issues that do not include the Iskandar Malaysia project.
“This demonstrates that ties between the two countries remain strong,” the statement added.
The ministry also said that the meeting “will form the next positive step forward” and it is confident that “the current momentum of engagement between Malaysia and Singapore will continue”.
“Both foreign ministers are in communication and agreed that both sides should remain calm and not sensationalize the matter,” the statement noted.
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