Singapore insists Johor MB’s ship visit ‘illegal’, ‘provocative’

Johor MB Osman Sapian on board the Malaysian vessel Pedoman, which Singapore says is illegally anchored in its waters. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Singapore today confirmed sending a protest note to Malaysia on Friday over what it described as a “provocative act” by Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.

This followed Osman’s visit to a Malaysian government vessel on Jan 8.

Singapore said the vessel Pedoman was “anchored illegally” in the waters off Tuas, adding that it was for this reason that Singapore called off a Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) meeting which had been scheduled tomorrow.

“Such a provocative act went against the spirit of the agreement reached a day earlier by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah, to resolve bilateral issues in a calm and constructive manner,” said a statement by Singapore’s foreign ministry today.

It, however, welcomed Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali who is currently visiting Singapore.

Osman said he did not trespass into Singapore waters, saying he was observing Malaysian security teams.

“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,” he was quoted as Bernama as saying.

Singapore has accused Malaysian ships of encroaching into its waters off Tuas after Malaysia extended the Johor Bahru port limits in October. - FMT