SINGAPORE: Malaysia will negotiate with Singapore regarding the ongoing maritime dispute between the two countries, but no decision has been made about removing Malaysian vessels, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday (Dec 10).
“We will negotiate with Singapore,” Malaysia’s Dr Mahathir told reporters after a visit to the Institute of Integrity in Kuala Lumpur.
“We don’t want to fight with Singapore – sometimes there are overlapping claims, we can resolve through negotiations,” he said, speaking in Malay.
These negotiations will begin as soon as possible, and will be handled by “foreign affairs”, said Dr Mahathir in English.
When asked whether there would be an attempt to withdraw the Malaysian government vessels in the disputed area, Dr Mahathir said that there was no decision.
“At the moment because there is no decision, the vessels are there,” he said. “Singapore vessels are there, Malaysian vessels are there.”
READ: Singapore, Malaysia maritime dispute: A timeline
Separately, Malaysia’s foreign affairs ministry on Monday issued a statement saying it would take “all effective measures to de-escalate the situation on the ground”.
However, the Malaysian government “is unable to accede” to Singapore’s “counter-proposal” of a return to the status quo prior to Oct 25, 2018, it said.
Said the Malaysian ministry: “The ministry referred to Singapore’s diplomatic note of Dec 8, 2018, in which Singapore declined Malaysia’s proposal for both countries to mutually cease and desist sending assets into the disputed area effective 0000 hrs on Dec 8, 2018 with a view of promoting de-escalation of tensions on the ground, pending discussions on outstanding maritime boundary issues.
“Singapore also called upon Malaysia to return to the status quo prior to Oct 25, 2018 by immediately withdrawing all Malaysian government vessels in the area.”
Both countries acknowledge that any measures taken would be without prejudice to their own claims, said the statement. However, Malaysia is unable to accede to Singapore’s counter-proposal, it added.
“While the government of Malaysia is unable to accede to Singapore’s counter-proposal, Malaysia will take all effective measures to de-escalate the situation on the ground, reaffirming its position to handle the situation in a calm and peaceful manner,” it said.
In the meantime, Malaysia reiterates “the importance of strong bilateral relations” between the two countries, said the ministry, adding that the country hopes discussions will “commence expeditiously”.
READ: Maritime dispute: Singapore does not agree with Malaysia’s ‘cease and desist’ proposal
There have been 14 intrusions by Malaysian government vessels in Singapore territorial waters in the last two weeks, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said at a media briefing last Thursday.
These intrusions came after Malaysia extended its Johor port limits on Oct 25, encroaching into Singapore waters off Tuas.
Malaysia has called for both countries to “cease and desist” from sending assets into a “disputed area” – a proposal Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said it did not agree with, calling for a “return to the status quo ante before Oct 25, 2018”.
