The Singapore Ministry of Transport said it has no objection to its Malaysian counterpart’s intention to release correspondence between the two governments on the Seletar Airport’s Instrument Landing System (ILS).
However, it said, Malaysia should not limit itself to releasing letters, but other documents as well.
“We have no objection if Malaysia feels the need to release correspondence on this matter.
“However, we observe that the Malaysia Ministry of Transport has only mentioned its letters from October and November 2018.
“For transparency, Malaysia should ensure that all correspondence and records of discussions between Singapore and Malaysia be published, including the record of discussion of the latest meeting between the two countries on 29-30 November 2018,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Yesterday, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke (photo) accused the Singapore Ministry of Transport of selectively releasing documents to influence public opinion.
The documents released were an extract of the minutes of a consultative meeting between Singapore and Malaysia on the proposed ILS procedure for the republic's Seletar Airport on Dec 5, 2017.
It also included letters dated Dec 6, 2017, and June 6 this year from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) seeking feedback from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), which Singapore said went unanswered.
In accusing Singapore of selectively releasing documents, Loke also dared Singapore to release letters from CAAM to CAAS dated Oct 9, Nov 15, Nov 21 and Nov 28.
"Failing which, we are prepared to release the letters for full disclosure of such information for the public’s comprehension of our stand on the same,” Loke said.
The Singapore Ministry of Transport said in response that the release of the documents was meant to address media queries on whether CAAS had consulted CAAM in December 2017.
“The queries arose from Malaysia’s inaccurate claim earlier in the day that this matter had only come to their attention two months ago (in October 2018).
“Singapore’s view is that it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges. This is why we have not released any other correspondence between Singapore and Malaysia on this matter.
“The Malaysia Minister for Transport, Anthony Loke, had expressed a similar view on 4 December 2018,” it said.
Malaysia had protested against Singapore updating the ILS runway approach protocol at Seletar Airport, which uses Malaysian airspace and is due to come into force on Jan 3.
Loke said this was against the principles of national sovereignty as provided for by the Convention of International Civil Aviation.
However, Singapore claimed that Malaysia had not previously raised objections on the matter. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.