Malaysia, Singapore reopen discussion on long-standing issues

In fact, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the technical teams will also discuss the parameters of the issues.

"These are complex issues and our position is of course, as (Singapore) Prime Minister Lawrence has said, to deal with it holistically or in a comprehensive manner, so that some areas which are demanded by Singapore, some demanded by Malaysia, should be fully considered and the final settlement should be a win-win position."

Anwar said this at the joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong after the delegation meeting in conjunction with the 11th Leaders' Retreat, here today.

Anwar said the issue of the export of Sarawak's energy to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore was also further deliberated with his visiting Singaporean counterpart.

Anwar said the long-standing issues should not detract from any of both countries' positive attitudes and positions but working together on the fundamentals such as economic, energy, digital, investments and trade.

"These negotiations have been going on for the last few decades. So I do not think we should wait for new decades to come. We can always do it, but not necessarily at the next annual retreat.

"We agree that on this quarterly basis, we should have a form of short meeting to review this and, in that manner, compel our technical team and experts to deal with it expeditiously," he said.

Anwar said he and Wong also discussed the issue of the Flight Information Region (FIR), recognising the needs of Malaysia in terms of its connectivity with Sabah and Sarawak and also the requirement of Singapore to ensure that the performance and activities in Changi and Selangor are unaffected and will be further facilitated.

Meanwhile, Wong also acknowledged that these are long-standing issues and complex in nature, but both sides will continue to discuss these issues holistically and constructively within the overall context of a broader relationship.

"The issues are complex. We have made some progress, but we still need more time to resolve them. But we will continue to engage in good faith and as good neighbours, I am confident working together, we can develop durable outcomes on all of these issues with a balance of benefits on both sides.

"Last year at the introductory visit, both Prime Minister Anwar and I have asked the officials to meet. They have done so across all of these issues on maritime boundaries, on water and on airspace. They have had good discussions.

"Some progress has been made, but we are not ready to resolve all of them yet, because they are complex and, while we would like the resolution to be expeditious, I think it's also important that we give time for the officials to meet, talk to one another, understand each other's positions, and come up with an agreement and an outcome that is durable and that is beneficial for both sides," he said.

Wong said he and Anwar are fully committed to having good faith conversations and discussions in a manner that is constructive, and that the issues will be discussed holistically to make sure the outstanding matters do not ever detract Singapore-Malaysia overall relationship.

"That is why we are still able to move forward on positive win-win projects like the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. We do not want these issues, even if there are differences of views, to detract from the positive projects that we can do together," he added.

Earlier, Wong who is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia, attended an official welcoming ceremony at Perdana Putra Complex and an official luncheon hosted by Anwar.

-- BERNAMA