Things may look good in the coming weeks for Singapore and Malaysia as Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed that the two countries are "making headway" on the disputes that stemmed from the Malaysian government's claims over Seletar Airport's Instrument Landing System (ILS).
The world watched Singapore and Malaysia go through ups and downs over the years but the recent disputes seem to have ignited a greater fire. On the other hand, Ng has proclaimed that both countries are continuously communicating to resolve disputes regarding airspace and maritime limits.
In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Ng said, "I think we are making headway. As you know, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the (Malaysian) officials are speaking," The Straits Times reported.
While Singapore communicates with Malaysia, Ng noted that his country's security agencies are "ever vigilant." He added that Singapore knows what could happen and they are prepared to respond to unforeseen events with urgency.
For Ng, the disputes are better left in the hands of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He believes that both Singapore and Malaysia will arrive at a positive settlement that will benefit both countries.
Last week, some tourists felt the impact of tensions between the two Asian countries. It was reported that some day tours to Johor, Malaysia were canceled, igniting talks about how heated the tensions are.
Asia One translated a report by Sin Chew Daily, stating that some Singaporean groups behind the organization of the trips decided to cancel the day tours to avoid potential complications between Singapore and Malaysia.
Advertisements about the Johor day trips started emerging in November and seats piled up quickly. The trips feature Chinese New Year shopping sprees and those who purchased can enjoy local cuisine.
While fees were refunded to participants, some of them expressed disappointment over the cancelation of the annual tours. On the contrary, some Singaporeans said they avoid booking flights to Malaysia due to the disputes that have yet to be resolved.
The Singapore-Malaysia rift started when the latter claimed that the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Singapore's Seletar Airport will have a potentially negative impact on Johor's Pasir Gudang areas. Singapore said the claims are untrue.
Another issue is Malaysia's expansion of Johor's port limits. Singapore threw a trivial fit over this but when Malaysian vessels were spotted in Singaporean seas, the tension grew, prompting government officials from both sides to begin bilateral talks.
Singapore and Malaysia are expected to meet sometime soon for a further discussion on the disputes that have affected some citizens.
