SINGAPORE said it disagrees with Malaysia’s proposal to cease and desist from sending assets into the disputed maritime boundary area between the two countries.
In a statement on its website, the republic’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Singapore had received Malaysia’s diplomatic note dated today.
Singapore will respond in due course, the ministry said, adding that the republic remained ready to discuss the matter with Malaysia.
“However, Singapore does not agree with Malaysia’s proposal for both countries to cease and desist from sending assets into the disputed area.
“As Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Malaysian Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on December 5, Malaysian government vessels have repeatedly intruded into Singapore Territorial Waters following the purported extension of the port limits of Johor Baru Port on October 25.
“Malaysian government vessels should forthwith cease these provocative violations of Singapore sovereignty and return to the status quo ante before October 25, without prejudice to our respective positions on maritime boundary claims in the area.
“Attempts to create facts on the ground add nothing to Malaysia’s legal case and are unhelpful for an amicable resolution of our maritime boundary issues,” the statement by a ministry spokesman read.
Earlier, Saifuddin said in a statement that Malaysia had proposed to Singapore that both nations should steer clear of the dispute maritime area pending discussions on the issue.
Malaysia and Singapore have been at loggerheads over maritime boundary issues this week.
On Tuesday, Singapore lodged a “strong protest” with Putrajaya for changing the Johor Baru port limits. The republic said Malaysia had extended the port limits significantly eastward beyond the territorial sea claim in the area made in Malaysia’s 1979 map.
Singapore urged Malaysia to stop further unilateral action and to amend the government gazette notification published late October “to reflect the sovereignty of Singapore over the waters in question”.
Singapore’s Transport Ministry also said Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Department Malaysia vessels had repeatedly intruded into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas in the past two weeks.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad denied that Malaysia had touched Singapore’s border.
Yesterday, Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said Singapore was extending it port limits off Tuas and would “not hesitate to take firm actions” against intrusions to protect its territory and sovereignty.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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