Wednesday, October 21, 1998

Malaysia Wants To Cooperate With Neighbours - Toyad

KUALA LUMPUR Oct 20 - Malaysia is always striving to cooperate and develop the region together with its neighbours, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad told the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today.

''We are not inclined to create problems for our neighbours as our policy is to cooperate and help develop the region,'' he said when replying to Mohamad Sabu (PAS-Kubang Kerian) who sought clarification about the statement attributed to Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister that the strain in Malaysia-Singapore relations has not reached the level of the two countries going to WAR.

Toyad said that Malaysia hopes that the leader concerned will weigh any implication carefully before making such a statement.

''We have always believed that the region's peace and stability depends on the people of this region,'' he said.

To a question from Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang), Toyad said the government has no plans to review its relations with Singapore.

''The Government will resolve all outstanding issues with Singapore even though it may be difficult and take time,'' he said.

He said the spirit of neighbourliness, the shared history and some degree of tolerance have to be considered in resolving bilateral issues between Malaysia and Singapore.

To another question from Abdul Hadi of Batu Puteh, Toyad said both countries has agreed to refer the Batu Puteh issue to the International Court of Justice.

On the use of Malaysian airspace by Singapore military aircraft, he said Malaysia has explained the requirements clearly to the republic particularly for search and rescue operations.

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

Malaysia, Singapore Conclude Claims On Pulau Batu Puteh

KUALA LUMPUR April 14 - After two years, Malaysia and Singapore today concluded discussions to submit their overlapping claims on Pulau Batu Puteh to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, Netherlands.

Both sides also agreed to include two other features, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, located near Pulau Batu Puteh in the subject for the adjudication by the ICJ, said a joint statement by the Foreign Ministry today.

The statement was issued after the third meeting between senior officials from both countries here.

Negotiations over the islet off Johor, otherwise called Pedra Branca by Singapore, have been protracted over the past two years but were restarted following talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Singapore counterpart Goh Chok Tong during the latter's visit here in February.

''Malaysia and Singapore successfully completed their third and final meeting to discuss the submission of the case of Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh to the International Court of Justice,'' said the joint statement.

The statement also said that the meeting was held in the spirit of friendliness and close co-operation and ''both sides are satisfied that the meeting has brought the dispute closer to a solution''.

''Apart from the subject of the dispute, the Special Agreement provides a time frame with regards to the processes involved including the submission of written pleadings,'' it said.

The Special Agreement would be submitted to the two governments to be signed and ratified before forwarded to the ICJ.

The Malaysian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Mohamad while S.Tiwari, Senior State Counsel in the Attorney-General's chambers, headed the Singaporean delegation.

The success of today's meeting marked the first of two agreements expected to be signed between the two governments this month.

Malaysia and Singapore are expected to endorse a second agreement for Malaysia to continue to supply water to the island republic upon the expiry of two agreements in 2011 and 2061.

The two agreements are to be signed within 60 days from Feb 17 this year as agreed between Dr Mahathir and Goh.

Wednesday, February 18, 1998

Syarat baru dirunding - Bekalan air ke Singapura diteruskan selepas tahun 2061

Oleh SAMSOR JUNET

KUALA LUMPUR 17 Feb. - Malaysia bersetuju untuk meneruskan pembekalan air ke Singapura selepas tahun 2061 berikutan rundingan antara Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan rakan sejawatannya dari Singapura Goh Chok Tong di sini.

Dr. Mahathir berkata, sehubungan itu beberapa syarat baru akan dirundingkan kelak memandangkan Malaysia tidak tahu keadaan sebenar daripada segi kos, harga dan kadar pertukaran mata wang apabila pembekalan air diteruskan.

Kata beliau, persetujuan tersebut merupakan komitmen awal Kerajaan Pusat sendiri walaupun persetujuan kerajaan negeri yang terbabit belum diperolehi memandangkan ia terletak di bawah bidang kuasa negeri.

''Kita telah memberi pengakuan (kepada Singapura) bahawa selepas perjanjian tamat pada 2061, kita akan terus bekal (air) tetapi syarat kena dirunding pada waktu itu,'' katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengiringi Goh Chok Tong melawat Pusat Penyiaran All Asia Broadcast Centre (Astro) di sini, hari ini.

Dr. Mahathir menyatakan demikian semasa ditanya mengenai jaminan yang diberikan oleh Malaysia untuk terus membekalkan air ke Singapura melepasi tahun 2061 semasa perbincangan dengan Goh Chok Tong semalam.

Satu pernyataan bersama yang dikeluarkan oleh Wisma Putra hari ini menyatakan jaminan itu akan disahkan melalui satu perjanjian dalam tempoh 60 hari.

Menurut pernyataan itu, kerajaan Malaysia telah bersetuju untuk meneruskan pembekalan air ke Singapura selepas tamatnya Perjanjian 1961 pada tahun 2011 dan Perjanjian 1962 pada tahun 2061, di samping Perjanjian 1990 yang berkaitan dengannya, mengikut syarat-syarat yang akan dipersetujui bersama oleh kedua-dua kerajaan.

Malaysia membekalkan 214 juta liter air mentah sehari ke Singapura dan membeli balik air yang sudah ditapis daripada loji milik Singapura di Johor.

Perdana Menteri berkata, persetujuan mengenai air merupakan salah satu masalah utama yang telah dapat diselesaikan oleh Malaysia dan Singapura selaras dengan langkah kedua-dua negara untuk merapatkan hubungan dan melupakan 'perkara-perkara lama'.

Dr. Mahathir menjelaskan, yang penting bagi Singapura ialah Malaysia telah memberi jaminan bahawa bekalan air selepas 2061 tidak akan dipotong.

''Apa yang kita buat ialah memberi jaminan bahawa kita tidak akan memotong bekalan air atau memutuskannya dengan apa cara sekalipun, kita akan meneruskan bekalan,'' ujarnya.

Sambil menyatakan bahawa walaupun terdapat cadangan supaya syarat-syarat bekalan air itu dibuat sekarang, beliau menegaskan:

''Kerajaan tidak mampu melakukannya dan Perdana Menteri Goh memahami kedudukan kita.''

Beliau berkata, ia adalah kerana bekalan air merupakan bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri dan bukannya terletak di bawah Kerajaan Pusat.

Oleh itu kata beliau, kedua-dua negara memerlukan masa selama 60 hari dalam usaha untuk membincangkan syarat-syarat baru

''Saya perlu menyakinkan perkara ini (bekalan air ke Singapura) kepada rakan-rakan (dalam kabinet) dan kerajaan negeri (khususnya Johor),'' ujarnya.

Mengenai bekalan air tambahan ke Singapura, Dr. Mahathir berkata, republik itu sememangnya ada membuat permintaan tetapi ia merupakan soal lain dan bergantung pada kajian yang dibuat oleh negara ini.

Mengenai cara yang dipersetujui oleh kedua-dua negara dalam mengatasi sebarang masalah pada masa depan, beliau berkata, ia perlu dibincangkan di peringkat jabatan dan kementerian terlebih dahulu sebelum dibawa ke peringkat lebih tinggi untuk diselesaikan.

Ditanya mengenai pelaburan Singapura di Malaysia, beliau berkata, negara ini mengalu-alukannya, malah menggalakkan lagi kerana republik itu banyak melabur dalam pembangunan infrastruktur.

Mengenai kegawatan di Indonesia, Perdana Menteri berkata, perkara tersebut ada dibincangkan secara umum dengan Goh tetapi ia bukan bertujuan campur tangan dalam soal dalaman negara berkenaan, sebaliknya melihat kesannya ke atas rantau ini.

Sempena lawatan kerja dua hari Goh ke Malaysia, pemimpin kedua-dua negara itu membincangkan beberapa isu, antaranya tuntutan bertindih Pulau Batu Putih, pembangunan tanah KTM Berhad (KTMB) di Singapura dan kerjasama untuk mempertingkatkan industri pelancongan.

Goh, isterinya Puan Tan Choo Leng dan delegasi seramai 18-orang menamatkan lawatan dua hari ke Malaysia hari ini.

Dalam pada itu, pernyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Wisma Putra pagi ini memberi tanda jelas tentang pulihnya hubungan antara kedua-dua negara selepas pertemuan kedua-dua Perdana Menteri itu semalam.

Selain mencapai persetujuan dalam isu bekalan air, menurut penyataan itu, pegawai Malaysia dan Singapura juga akan menyambung rundingan dalam tempoh 60 hari untuk menyiapkan satu perjanjian khas bagi merujukkan tuntutan bertindih mereka terhadap Pulau Batu Puteh ke Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ).

Rundingan mengenai pulau kecil di luar pantai Johor yang juga dipanggil Pedra Branca oleh Singapura itu, telah berjalan selama dua tahun lepas.


Pernyataan itu berkata persetujuan-persetujuan yang dicapai antara kedua-dua pemimpin itu telah meletakkan ''asas yang kukuh'' untuk Malaysia dan Singapura bekerjasama rapat dalam alaf akan datang.

Kedua-dua kerajaan juga bersetuju untuk mempertingkatkan usaha bagi menyelesaikan soal-soal perkaitan Perkara yang Dipersetujui (POA) mengenai tanah milik KTM di Tanjung Pagar, Singapura.

Dr. Mahathir telah menyatakan dalam temubual dengan Straits Times Singapura baru-baru ini bahawa Malaysia mempunyai takrif yang berbeza mengenai POA yang ditandatangani di Singapura pada 1990 antara Menteri Kewangan ketika itu Tun Daim Zainuddin dengan Perdana Menteri Singapura ketika itu Lee Kuan Yew untuk memajukan tanah KTM tersebut.

Dr. Mahathir dan Goh bersependapat bahawa mereka perlu berusaha ke arah menggunakan sepenuhnya potensi yang ada dalam hubungan antara kedua-dua negara berdasarkan prinsip ''memakmurkan jiran anda'' memandangkan keistimewaan hubungan antara kedua-dua negara - Utusan Malaysia

New Dimension In Malaysia-Singapore Ties

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 17 - Signalling a new dimension in their sometimes prickly ties, Malaysia and Singapore moved forward on several long-standing bilateral issues following talks between Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his Singaporean counterpart Goh Chok Tong here.

A joint communique issued by the Foreign Ministry to wrap up Goh's 48-hour working visit here today said the agreements reached between the two prime ministers have laid a ''firm foundation'' for both countries to cooperate closely in the new millennium.

The two leaders also agreed that Malaysia and Singapore will intensify efforts to cooperate in banking and finance and work together with their ASEAN partners to restore stability to regional currencies.

Officials from both sides will study Malaysia's proposal of using regional currencies and other options to finance intra-ASEAN trade.

Malaysia announced that it agreed to continue supplying water to Singapore beyond 2061 upon the expiry of existing agreements signed in 1961 and 1962. This undertaking will be confirmed in an agreement in 60 days.

Met by reporters after accompanying Goh on a tour of the All-Asia Broadcast Centre (Astro) prior to his departure, Dr Mahathir said: ''What we have done is to give an undertaking that we will not cut off water supply or terminate in any way. We'll continue to supply water.''

Asked whether the new time-frame for the supply has been set, Dr Mahathir said the decision cannot be made now as the ''situation prevailing at that time is something that we do not know.''

''So we cannot make a decision now which will commit the future government... so I think PM Goh has understood our position,'' said Dr Mahathir who drove Goh in a Proton Putra to Astro.

Asked what was Singapore's response on the matter, Dr Mahathir said there was some suggestion that both countries enter into an agreement now.

On Singapore's request for additional water supply, Dr Mahathir said a study is being done, taking into consideration Malaysia's own future requirement.

Malaysia supplies 214 million litres of raw water daily to the island republic and buys back treated water from Singapore-owned plants in Johor.

The communique said the two countries will also restart negotiations to finalise a special agreement to refer their overlapping claim on Pulau Batu Puteh to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Negotiations over the islet off Johor, otherwise called Pedra Branca by Singapore, have been going on for the past two years.


Malaysia and Singapore also agreed to resolve outstanding differences relating to a 1990 pact on the land owned by Malaysian railway company, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM Bhd) in Tanjung Pagar in Singapore.

The agreement was sealed between then Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to develop the KTM Bhd land.

Dr Mahathir and Goh agreed that they should work towards realising the full potential in the relations between the two countries based on the principle of ''prosper thy neighbour'' in recognition of the unique and special relationship between the two countries.

They also recognised that the regional financial crisis had further underscored the need for both countries to cooperate closely in all possible areas.

The two countries also welcome investments from each other with Singapore expressing full confidence in Malaysia's economic prospects.

''In this respect, the two Prime Ministers highlighted the value of cross-holdings in infrastructure and other economic sectors to make both countries stakeholders in each other's prosperity and long-term economic future,'' said the communique.

They welcome the establishment of a Malaysia-Singapore Business Council by the private sector to enhance trade and investment as well as to strengthen economic and business synergies amongst their respective business entities.

Both sides also agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in tourism including manpower training.

Bilateral ties were strained last year following remarks by Lee Kuan Yew, now Singapore Senior Minister, about crime in Johor. Lee subsequently apologised.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said there was a ''sense of bullishness'' that Malaysia and Singapore would work together to intensify the relations.

''What needs to be done is ensure we do not have interruptions or strain our relations because of irritants and pinpricks now and then,'' he said when briefing reporters after Dr Mahathir and Goh's meeting.