Land, Sea and Air.
Did the 1965 Separation Agreement have a few sentences to state how cross-border concerns and disputes over land, sea and air issues, if it ever arises, will be settled according to international laws and conventions governing airspace, sea borders, the digging, drilling and tunnelling into each other’s land, and/or state ownership of each other’s land and water resources and supplies?
I hope the Separation Agreement has all three, land, sea and air adequately covered to settle disagreement and disputes if any.
Sad, if it does not.
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What a Separation in 1965 with no clear demarcation of the borderline at sea in the west…Is it true?
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Settle by law by law…by international law on borderline at sea between two nations…
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Was the border line at sea agreed upon in the west at the 1965 Separation?
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If not done, not agreed upon, and was a hurried separation job, then it will mean a baggage has been handed down from 1965 to now for both sides to sit down and agree to the borderline, or agree to disagree.
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Who has prayed for both Malaysia’s and Singapore’s spiritual well-being?
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In a video interview a few months ago after toppling PM Najib on 9th May 2018 at the GE, Dr M said Malaysia and Singapore can negotiate on contentious issues, but when it fails, then go to war.
This is a new Age of Harmony, WA 和, Peace, not war, not conflict, not friction.
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Gratitude for everything will transform the whole world.
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Sharing:
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Seletar Airport. Solution – in case where needed as a last resort?
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No waste in upgrading the airport if the government change the direction of the runway for the planes to fly over Singapore and not into Johor.
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Noise level?
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Well, the government can fix FOC double-glazed window glass in all houses/flats that are under the flight path.
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Airport hotels have this for the guests not to hear the aircraft noise while in the room.
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Joint Press Statement: Meeting between the Republic of Singapore and Malaysia on Recent Bilateral Developments, Singapore, 8 January 2019
08 January 2019, Source: MFA, Singapore.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah and their respective delegations met on 8 January 2019 in Singapore to discuss recent developments on Malaysia’s establishment of a permanent Restricted Area (RA) over Pasir Gudang and Singapore’s implementation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport. The Foreign Ministers also discussed maritime issues surrounding the Johor Bahru port limits and Singapore port limits.
The Foreign Ministers had a positive and constructive meeting. Both sides reiterated their commitment to preserving the vital relationship between both countries and to improving bilateral ties, on the basis of equality and mutual respect. They agreed on the importance of keeping the situation on the ground calm to allow discussions to take place in a conducive atmosphere.
The Foreign Ministers agreed that both sides would immediately simultaneously suspend Malaysia’s permanent RA and Singapore’s implementation of the ILS procedures for Seletar Airport, for a period of one month in the first instance. They agreed that, in the meantime, the Transport Ministers from both countries should meet soon for discussions on the RA and the Seletar Airport ILS procedures to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation.
On maritime issues surrounding the two port limits, both Ministers agreed to establish a working group headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chee Wee Kiong, and the Secretary-General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, and comprising relevant senior officials. The working group will study and discuss the legal and operational matters in order to de-escalate the situation on the ground, and provide a basis for further discussions and negotiations. The working group is to report to the Foreign Ministers within two months.
Both Foreign Ministers were pleased with the progress made at the meeting, and welcomed the positive steps that both sides had agreed on to move these matters forward in a calm and constructive manner.
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After reclaiming a big piece of land, does Malaysia redraw the midpoint of the sea [the existing old border line at sea] from the ‘new’ shore of the reclaimed land?
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The reclaimed land must stop at their side of the divide at sea, the old existing border at sea, in the water of the Johor Straits. If they reclaim land and end at the border line in the water, it means they have no more sea on their side to sail the vessels in the Johor Straits.
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They cannot reclaim land to cross over the old existing border line at sea and encroach into our water.
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Singapore should light up with markers the border line at sea [in the water of the Johor Straits] and equip it with auto audio system to warn vessels not to cross the border to enter our waters.
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Build a new lighthouse at the Tuas areas and light it up to show to all where the dividing line of the border at sea [in the Johor Straits] starts.
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Malaysia proposes meeting with Singapore to discuss maritime boundary issues
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PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia has proposed a meeting between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries to discuss the outstanding maritime boundary issues which have sparked recent tensions.
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On Wednesday (Dec 5), the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said both countries value good and strong bilateral relations, and noted that “it is important to avoid any acts which may lead to escalation and fuel tension”.
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“This spirit of dialogue will also inform contacts between the Ministers of Transport to resolve the ILS and delegated airspace issues,” added the Malaysian MFA.
The proposed meeting comes after Malaysia sent two protest notes to Singapore pertaining to the airspace and maritime boundary disputes in which the two countries are engaged.
The first note objects to Singapore’s use of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and ILS Approach Procedures for its Seletar Airport, which Putrajaya claims infringe on Malaysia’s sovereignty as they affected developments and shipping operations in Johor’s Pasir Gudang port.
Singapore has maintained that under current arrangements agreed upon by both countries, the Republic is responsible for putting in place the flight procedures in the delegated airspace, which include those going in and out of all airports in Singapore.
The ILS procedure refers to an assisted navigational aviation facility at the airport that provides vertical and horizontal guidance to flights descending and approaching the runway.
In a statement issued last night, the Malaysian MFA said it registered “strong objection and protest to the said publication by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) without the agreement of the government of Malaysia”.
It added that the “unilateral act” violated Malaysia’s sovereignty and is an intrusion of Malaysia’s airspace.
“This contradicts the principles that each state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory; and that the delegation of a state’s responsibility for its air traffic services over its territory does not derogate its sovereignty,” it said, and reiterated its call for the withdrawal of the publication of ILS and ILS Approach Procedures for Seletar Airport.
The second protest note was with regards to the maritime boundary dispute between Malaysia and Singapore, including the new Johor Bahru Port Limits and recent incidents of alleged encroachment.
The ministry said that the government “categorically rejects” Singapore’s allegations that the move to extend the Johor Bahru port limits “has resulted in the encroachment of the port limits in Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, or that it is a violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.
“The government of Malaysia affirms that the new Johor Baru Port Limits are within Malaysia’s territorial sea,” the statement added.
“Further, it is well within the government of Malaysia’s right to draw any port limit in its territorial sea in accordance with Malaysia’s own national laws.
“As such, the government of Malaysia refutes the view that Malaysia’s government vessels had intruded into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas,” it said.
It maintained that it is within Malaysia’s right to deploy its enforcement and implementation agencies within its territorial sea, and that the practice is “fully consistent” with international law.
“As such, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Marine Department of Malaysia have not intruded into any part of Singapore’s territorial waters,” it said.
TODAY has reached out to Singapore’s MFA for comment.
The diplomatic notes comes after Singapore had earlier lodged a strong protest with Malaysia over the latter’s purported move to extend port limits, thereby violating sovereignty and international laws. Singapore had said it will not hesitate to “take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities”.
It was also revealed earlier this week that ships and vessels from Malaysia have been repeatedly intruding into Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas over the past two weeks, including vessels from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Department Malaysia.
In spite of the public exchange of words in the last week, Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan had repeatedly expressed hope that “good sense will prevail” in relation to both issues, and stressed the need for both countries to cooperate for a “win-win outcome”.
On Wednesday, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan called on Putrajaya to cease its intrusions into Singapore’s territorial waters in a phone call with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah.
Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore respected Malaysia’s sovereignty, and it was in the interest of both countries to ensure the safety of civil aviation over their skies.
“Minister Balakrishnan said that Singapore and Malaysia should continue to discuss these issues constructively and emphasised the importance of maintaining a good bilateral relationship between close neighbours and compliance with international law,” the Singapore’s MFA said in a statement. AGENCIES
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Singapore makes its point after Malaysia says it wants to take back management of airspace over south Johor
SINGAPORE – Management of the skies has “nothing to do with sovereignty”, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday (Dec 4), after Malaysia signalled it wanted to reclaim its rights to run the airspace over southern Johor.
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Mr Khaw said the airspace was delegated to Singapore’s management under an agreement with regional states, including Malaysia, in 1973, and this was approved by an international body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Moreover, it is not a “straightforward” decision to just alter the status quo, and under ICAO processes, there must be a reason for the change such as improvements to safety and efficiency, Mr Khaw told reporters at Seletar Airport.
Mr Khaw was responding to his counterpart, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who told Parliament on Tuesday that Malaysia intends to take back the delegated airspace over South Johor in stages, starting next year.
The move follows Malaysia’s objection to new flight procedures being proposed for Seletar Airport. Mr Loke said Malaysia has informed Singapore on Nov 29 that it wants to take back the airspace in phases.
“It is not our stance to take a confrontational approach with any party, much less our neighbours. But this involves our sovereignty, which the Malaysian government will defend in the strongest terms,” Mr Loke added.
In a statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) replied that the Republic respects Malaysia’s sovereignty, and that cross-border airspace management “is not incompatible with sovereignty”.
MOT said that under the current arrangements, Singapore is responsible for putting in place the flight procedures in the delegated airspace, which include those going into and out of all airports in Singapore.
In 1974, Singapore and Malaysia also inked a bilateral agreement on the arrangements that would ensure efficient air traffic flows into, out of, and overflying Singapore.
“The airspace in this region is one of the most complex in the world. Air traffic growth is one of the fastest in the world. The benefits to both our economies and our people have been tremendous,” said MOT.
“The current airspace arrangements have been working well and have facilitated this growth. Hence, any proposed changes will impact many stakeholders. Consultations will therefore be required to minimise the impact on airlines and passengers,” MOT added.
Many countries have their airspace, or at least a part of it, managed by other countries. For example, Brunei’s upper airspace is managed by Malaysia under the Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region. Malaysia also manages Indonesian airspace in the waters around Kuching Airport.
Malaysia has also protested against new flight procedures which would be implemented in January 2019 at Seletar Airport.
Mr Khaw said that these procedures, called the Instrument Landing System (ILS), are aligned with existing flight paths into Seletar, and that these flight profiles have been used for decades. They have also been designed to be in line with ICAO standards.
The ILS enables pilots to approach the airport and runway in a safer and more precise manner, through the use of instruments, rather than by sight.
The use of ILS is part of the shift of turboprop operations from Changi Airport to Seletar Airport, which Singapore had informed Malaysia of in 2014.
Mr Loke told Parliament on Tuesday said that Kuala Lumpur did not agree to the new flight paths because “it will stunt development” around the Pasir Gudang industrial district.
The new flight paths will impose height restrictions on buildings in the area, and port activities will also be affected, Mr Loke added.
“This contradicts the principle of national sovereignty provided for under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Foreign Ministry will issue a protest note to Singapore immediately concerning this breach of sovereignty,” Mr Loke said.
Singapore’s MOT said the ILS procedures were shared with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) in December last year. “However, despite repeated reminders, we received no substantive response from CAAM until late November 2018,” MOT added.
Mr Khaw said he found it “kind of strange” that Malaysia had concerns over the ILS. “There have always been flights up north, so the procedures take into account existing entities in Pasir Gudang,” he said.
Singapore’s MOT also said that the new procedures “do not impose any additional impact on other airspace users as well as businesses and residents in Johor”.
The ministry said it has noted Malaysia’s intent to provide air traffic services in the airspace over Southern Johor.
“We need to work together to tackle our common challenges and find constructive ways to resolve our differences when interests diverge. With goodwill, a win-win outcome is possible,” the MOT said.
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Malaysia sends 2 protest notes to Singapore over airspace and maritime disputes
SINGAPORE: The Malaysian government said on Wednesday (Dec 5) that it has sent two protest notes to Singapore pertaining to the airspace and maritime boundary
delimitation issues currently facing both countries.
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The notes were communicated through the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, according to a press release from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The first note pertains to Singapore’s publication of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and ILS Approach Procedures for Seletar Airport on Dec 1.
Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it registered the Malaysian government’s “strong objection and protest to the said publication by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) without the agreement of the Government of Malaysia”.
The ILS procedure refers to an assisted navigational aviation facility at the airport that provides vertical and horizontal guidance to pilots while the flight is descending and approaching the runway.
Malaysia had previously protested the publication of the ILS by Singapore, citing the impact of the Seletar Airport flight path on developments and shipping operations in Pasir Gudang.
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READ: Singapore, Malaysia airspace dispute: What we know and timeline
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However, Singapore said that the ILS simply puts on paper the existing flight paths, making safety rules clearer and more transparent.
“The unilateral act by the Government of Singapore is a violation of Malaysia’s sovereignty and is an intrusion of Malaysia’s sovereign airspace above its territory,” Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in the news release.
“This contradicts the principles that each State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory; and that the delegation of a State’s responsibility for its air traffic services over its territory does not derogate its sovereignty.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia therefore reiterates the call by the Government of Malaysia for the immediate withdrawal of the publication of ILS and ILS Approach Procedures for Seletar Airport by the Government of Singapore,” it said.
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READ: Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan urges Malaysia to ‘cease intrusions’
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The second protest note pertains to the outstanding maritime boundary delimitation between Malaysia and Singapore, including the new Johore Bahru Port Limits and the recent incidents in relation to it, the ministry said.
The Malaysian government “categorically rejects” the Singapore Government’s “allegation” that the move to extend the Johor Bahru port limits “has resulted in the encroachment of the port limits in Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, or that it is a violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.
“The Government of Malaysia affirms that the new Johore Bahru Port Limits are within Malaysia’s territorial sea.
“Further, it is well within the Government of Malaysia’s right to draw any port limit in its territorial sea in accordance with Malaysia’s own national laws.
“As such, the Government of Malaysia refutes the view that Malaysia’s government vessels had intruded into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas,” read the press release.
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained that it is within Malaysia’s right to deploy its enforcement and implementation agencies within its territorial sea, and that the practice is “fully consistent” with international law.
“As such, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Marine Department of Malaysia have not intruded into any part of Singapore’s territorial waters,” it said.
In the press release, the ministry also noted the “good and strong” bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore, and proposed a meeting between the foreign ministries of both countries to discuss “outstanding maritime boundary issues”.
“It is important to avoid any acts which may lead to escalation and fuel tension,” the ministry said.
“This spirit of dialogue will also inform contacts between the Ministers of Transport to resolve the ILS and delegated airspace issues.”
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READ: Malaysia’s desire to take back airspace ‘not a straightforward decision’: Khaw Boon Wan
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ISSUES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED “CONSTRUCTIVELY”: FM BALAKRISHNAN
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Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday spoke to Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah on the phone about both issues.
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Regarding the airspace issues, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore respected Malaysia’s sovereignty and that it was “in the interest of both countries to ensure the safety of civil aviation over our skies”.
He said the two countries “should continue to discuss these issues constructively” and emphasised the importance of maintaining a good bilateral relationship and compliance with international law.
In the phone call, Dr Balakrishnan also referred to discussions on the Johor Bahru port limits, urging Malaysia to cease intrusions into Singapore territorial waters to avoid escalating tensions on the ground.
Despite Singapore’s diplomatic protests, there have been a “series of provocative intrusions” by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas, said Dr Balakrishnan.
He then stressed the “urgent need” for Malaysia to “cease these intrusions”.
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Malaysia sends 2 protest notes to Singapore over airspace and maritime disputes
SINGAPORE: The Malaysian government said on Wednesday (Dec 5) that it has sent two protest notes to Singapore pertaining to the airspace and maritime boundary delimitation issues currently facing both countries.
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The notes were communicated through the Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, according to a press release from Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The first note pertains to Singapore’s publication of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and ILS Approach Procedures for Seletar Airport on Dec 1.
Malaysia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it registered the Malaysian government’s “strong objection and protest to the said publication by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) without the agreement of the Government of Malaysia”.
The ILS procedure refers to an assisted navigational aviation facility at the airport that provides vertical and horizontal guidance to pilots while the flight is descending and approaching the runway.
Malaysia had previously protested the publication of the ILS by Singapore, citing the impact of the Seletar Airport flight path on developments and shipping operations in Pasir Gudang.
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READ: Malaysia’s desire to take back airspace ‘not a straightforward decision’: Khaw Boon Wan
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ISSUES SHOULD BE DISCUSSED “CONSTRUCTIVELY”: FM BALAKRISHNAN
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Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday spoke to Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah on the phone about both issues.
Regarding the airspace issues, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore respected Malaysia’s sovereignty and that it was “in the interest of both countries to ensure the safety of civil aviation over our skies”.
He said the two countries “should continue to discuss these issues constructively” and emphasised the importance of maintaining a good bilateral relationship and compliance with international law.
In the phone call, Dr Balakrishnan also referred to discussions on the Johor Bahru port limits, urging Malaysia to cease intrusions into Singapore territorial waters to avoid escalating tensions on the ground.
Despite Singapore’s diplomatic protests, there have been a “series of provocative intrusions” by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas, said Dr Balakrishnan.
He then stressed the “urgent need” for Malaysia to “cease these intrusions”.
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Johor port extension: Dr M says Malaysia has not ‘touched’ Singapore’s border
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SHAH ALAM, Dec 5 — Malaysia is well within its rights to extend the Johor Baru port as it has not trespassed onto Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
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He said the distance from the border can be measured to determine the claims made by the Singaporean government.
“We can measure to see if it is true or not but we had not touched their border.
“We are still within our own waters,” he told reporters when met after launching the Union of Pos Malaysia Uniformed Staff (UPUS) conference, here, today.
Yesterday, Singapore lodged a protest with the Malaysian government over several alleged actions that encroached its borders, and had warned that it will take firm action against intrusions and unauthorised activities in its territorial waters.
Apart from the extension of the Johor Baru port, Singapore claims that vessels from Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Marine Department Malaysia has repeatedly intruded into Singapore territorial waters over the past two weeks.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said that Putrajaya had informed Singapore of its intention to take back airspace over south of Johor in stages starting next year.
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Airspace management isn’t about sovereignty, but about keeping skies safe, as traffic increases
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SINGAPORE – In 1947, when the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was set up as a United Nations arm to oversee commercial flights, one of the first things it did was to divide up the sky.
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Safety was the priority and the objective was to ensure that the moment a plane took off anywhere in the world, it would be closely watched and guided until it landed.
From the onset, one thing was made clear: While every nation had full sovereignty over its airspace, this did not necessarily mean it would also manage flights in its skies.
ICAO would designate flight information regions or FIRs based solely on technical and safety considerations, to ensure air traffic flowed smoothly and efficiently.
This would inevitably mean that FIRs would cross national airspace boundaries.
It is also the reason why there are close to 200 sovereign nations today and about half the number of FIRs.
In theory, it is a simple system that works like the popular game, pass the parcel – except that, in this case, it is an aircraft that is being passed by air traffic controllers from one flight information region to another.
Operationally, the stakes are high, with more than 100,000 flights a day that carry 10 million passengers to their destinations.
Of course, a country that does not manage its own airspace, for whatever reasons, has every right to reclaim it.
This is exactly what Malaysia has set out to do. It wants to take its airspace in southern Johor for which Singapore has been providing air traffic services as part of a deal inked between the two countries in 1974.
The big question that must be asked is why and the answer cannot be “because it’s mine”.
There are procedures and processes in place to redraw FIR lines and it is ultimately for the ICAO to decide if a country asking for its airspace to be returned is equipped to safely and efficiently handle flights in the area.
In other words, can it do a better job?
Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stressed this point on Tuesday (Dec 4) when he spoke to reporters at Seletar Airport about the ongoing discussions with Malaysia over airspace matters.
Any change must be for the better and if there is no improvement then there is really no need for change, he said.
It is a point that has also been previously made by the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) – the global voice of the companies that provide air traffic control.
According to a 2013 CANSO report, “air navigation services require a global, seamless, delivery-focused model, based on performance, rather than national borders”.
“For this to materialise, all stakeholders need a fully developed understanding of the meaning of national sovereignty consistent with present and future political, economic and social realities.”
In its latest forecast unveiled last month, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) noted that the number of air travellers could double to 8.2 billion a year in 2037.
The strongest growth will come from the Asia-Pacific: In South-east Asia alone, the number of flights could triple to more than 20,000 a day in 15 years.
To manage the projected growth safely, nations, regulators, air traffic service providers and other stakeholders need to come closer, not move further apart.
The way forward must be integration, not fragmentation.
Breaking the airspace into smaller pieces with more parties managing flights adds complexity, leads to multiple points of coordination and eventually, could pose more safety risks.
Indeed, this runs counter to what the Asean grouping of 10 nations stands for and hopes to achieve with its plans for a single aviation market that would eventually remove operational and commercial barriers for airlines and aviation-related businesses in the region.
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tankoktim 