I had no intention to cause provocation, clarifies Johor MB

Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian today insisted again that he did not trespass into Singaporean waters on Wednesday.

All he did, he said, was to watch Malaysia’s security teams doing their job.

Osman said his visit to the MV Pedoman vessel was also not meant as a provocation, as the Foreign Ministry was aware of it.

“I had no intention to provoke or to trespass. We can show the plan. 

"The foreign minister and deputy foreign minister contacted me to ask why I wanted to go. I said if I didn’t, then people will say the menteri besar is not doing anything.

“But if that caused Singapore to cancel the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) annual meeting on Jan 13 and 14, then that's up to them,” he told reporters after a Chinese New Year event at Taman Impian Emas, Johor Bahru.

Meeting postponed

Earlier today, the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that it had proposed for the JMCIM, scheduled for Monday, to be postponed and that Malaysia had agreed to it.

Wisma Putra said in a statement today that Singapore had sought the postponement via a diplomatic note dated Jan 11.

It added, however, that Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali would still meet his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishan to discuss other bilateral issues.

"This demonstrates that ties between the two countries remain strong. 

"The meeting will form the next positive step forward after the fruitful bilateral meeting held between the ministers of foreign affairs of Malaysia and Singapore on Jan 8,” it said.

Wisma Putra said the two foreign ministers were in communication and agreed that both sides should remain calm and not sensationalise the matter.

"The ministry is confident that the current momentum of engagement between Malaysia and Singapore will continue and reiterates its commitment to strengthen bilateral relations with Singapore based on equality and mutual respect," it added.

- Bernama