Ex-Singapore PM says just ignore Malaysia

(FMT) – Singapore veteran leader Goh Chok Tong has urged the city-state not to take action against Malaysian ships currently in waters claimed by both countries.

The former prime minister, now known as emeritus senior minister, is quoted by The Straits Times as saying that the situation was a repeat of Malaysia’s actions in the dispute over Pedra Branca, which the International Court of Justice awarded to Singapore in 2008.

He said at that time, Singapore chose not to provoke the Malaysians, saying its patrol boats could have easily warned them.

“But that would start a very, very serious conflict, so we decided (to) leave the boats alone,” he was quoted as saying.

“Their being there makes no difference whatsoever to the claims,” Goh, who was prime minister from 1990 to 2004, told a dialogue in Singapore today when asked how he would have handled the current territorial dispute with Malaysia.

The dispute is centred on the Johor Bahru port limits that Malaysia extended in October this year.

Singapore later responded by extending its own port limits on Dec 6.

Both countries have agreed to meet next month to talk about the issue.

Malaysia and Singapore are also involved in a dispute over usage of airspace following the introduction of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Seletar Airport in Singapore.

Malaysia said the ILS encroaches its airspace, stops the construction of tall buildings in Pasir Gudang, Johor, and subjects the Pasir Gudang Port to higher risks and multiple restrictions.