Singapore is gearing up for next month's discussion with Malaysia over a territorial dispute and intends to negotiate with its neighbour "in good faith", Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.
Mr Khaw said he hopes that "good sense will prevail" and the dispute, which came to light about two weeks ago, will be managed in a "peaceful, calm and professional" manner.
And if such an approach is taken by both sides, some "win-win" solutions can be worked out, he added.
On Oct 25, Kuala Lumpur uni-laterally extended the Johor Baru port limits such that they encroach on Singapore's territorial waters off Tuas.
As a result, Malaysian government vessels strayed into Singapore waters, and 14 incursions were recorded between Nov 24 and Dec 5. As of yesterday, two Malaysian ships were in Singapore waters, Mr Khaw said.
Reports two weeks ago said there were three ships, and the number went down to one last Wednesday.
"I don't think it is a question of counting one, two (or) three (ships). I think our preference - in fact, that is what we urged them to do - is to withdraw all the ships, because it is not conducive," he told reporters in an interview to round up his ministry's performance this year.
Reiterating a point he made last week, Mr Khaw said the presence of Malaysian ships does not make any difference to Malaysia's legal claims over the disputed waters.
He added that their presence is worrying as accidents can happen.
"Unfortunately, they (Malaysia) do not agree to withdraw. So, we will see how the bilateral discussion goes. My own view is it is not conducive to the bilateral discussion," Mr Khaw said.
Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to meet in the second week of next month to discuss the maritime dispute.
In response to the expanded Johor Baru port boundaries, Singapore extended its own port limits on Dec 6, a move that drew protest from Malaysia.
Last Wednesday, Singapore also took steps to ensure that no country would be able to unilaterally initiate third-party arbitration or adjudication on maritime boundary disputes against the Republic.
It filed a declaration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and informed Malaysia of this move. Both Malaysia and Singapore signed Unclos in 1982.
Besides the maritime dispute, Malaysia has also recently protested against new flight procedures that Singapore will implement next year at Seletar Airport, claiming they will stunt development in the Pasir Gudang area.
Asked if there would be any bilateral talks to resolve the matter, Mr Khaw said he was sure the issue would be on the agenda of next month's discussions.
