Johor MB insists he did not trespass into Singapore waters

Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian says the foreign ministry was aware of his visit to the vessel. (Bernama pic)

JOHOR BAHRU: Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian last night insisted that he did not trespass into Singapore waters on Wednesday.

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

He also said he was not out to provoke the republic when he visited
the MV Pedoman vessel as the foreign ministry was aware of his visit.

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

“The foreign minister and deputy minister contacted me to ask why I wanted to go. I said if I didn’t, then people will say the MB 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 it’s up to them,” he told reporters after a lantern-lighting ceremony in conjunction with Chinese New Year at Taman Impian Emas here.

Earlier yesterday, the Singapore foreign affairs ministry said in a statement it had proposed for the 14th JMCIM, scheduled for tomorrow, to be postponed and Malaysia had agreed to it. -FMT