PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to carry out five recommendations relating to the maritime issues surrounding the overlapping Johor Baru Port Limits off Tanjung Piai and Singapore Port Limits off Tuas.
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and his Singapore counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had given the green light to execute these measures.
The five recommendations are:
* To mutually suspend the implementation of their overlapping port limits and apply their port limits in effect prior to Oct 25, 2018, and Dec 6, 2018;
* To not authorise and to suspend all commercial activities in the area;
* To not anchor government vessels in the area;
* For Malaysia and Singapore vessels to operate in the area in accordance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The relevant agencies on both sides will work out practiccal modalities to avoid untoward incidents in the area; and,
* To establish a committee chaired by the Malaysia Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general and Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry’s permanent secretary who will ensure execution of the first four recommendations within one month, and that negotiations for maritime boundary delimitation in the area commence within one month following such implementation.
Saifuddin said the two countries worked towards reaching amicable solutions, which resulted in the five recommendations.
Vivian said all of these measures taken by both countries would be carried without prejudice to Malaysia’s and Singapore’s respective boundary claims in the area.
“We believe these recommendations will help us to resolve the situation on the ground,” he said.
In a joint statement, both ministers said in the event that the committee was unable to reach an amicable solution on delimitation, Malaysia and Singapore might mutually agree to resort to an appropriate international third-party dispute settlement procedure on terms to be mutually agreed by the parties.
Both of them had also agreed that these measures were vital to de-escalate the situation on the ground, and pave the way for maritime boundary delimitation of the area.
“These measures also demonstrate the commitment of both countries to work together to preserve a strong and positive bilateral relationship on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and to resolve bilateral issues amicably in accordance with international law,” they said.
The two ministers also looked forward to the successful implementation of these recommendations submitted by a Working Group headed by Foreign Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob and his Singaporean counterpart Chee Wee Kiong.