Talks on Singapore-Malaysia issues seem stalled: Jayakumar

Agence France Presse. March 9, 2000

TALKS between Singapore and Malaysia over a package of contentious bilateral issues could remain stalled due to upcoming polls in Malaysia's dominant political party, Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar said today.

He said Singapore wanted to resolve the long-standing bilateral issues "as soon as possible" but "it would seem that the immediate priority of the Malaysians" was a meeting in May of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) to choose top leaders.

"As such, it remains to be seen whether there will be significant movement on the discussions of the bilateral package before that," Jayakumar told parliament.

"It is clearly in the best interests of both countries to resolve these issues as soon as possible," he added.

Bilateral ties between the neighbours have been stormy since Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian federation in 1965 amid a dispute over Kuala Lumpur's preferential treatment of ethnic Malays.

Among sticky bilateral issues are water supplies from Malaysia to Singapore, customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements on a railway between them, withdrawal of pensions of Malaysian workers in Singapore and the use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean aircraft.

Officials from both sides have not met for nearly a year since a series of meetings were held in March, April and May of 1999, Jayakumar said, adding it was Malaysia's turn to host the next round of discussions.

He said Singapore has tried to accommodate Malaysia's requests on issues such as the customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements for the railway and the withdrawal of pensions.

"However, Malaysia has not given any indication that it is prepared to accommodate Singapore's requests on the various issues especially on the supply of raw water to Singapore after the expiry of our water agreements," Jayakumar said.

Another dispute centred on Singaporean-owned shares in Malaysian companies which were frozen when an offshore market in Singapore was shut down last September after Malaysia imposed capital controls.

But the Singapore and Malaysia stock exchanges last month reached a comprehensive agreement to the frozen shares issue.

Commenting on bilateral relations with Singapore's largest neighbour Indonesia, Jayakumar said they were "warm and friendly."

"The foundations of our relationship are strong and have withstood many storms," he said.

An exchange of visits between Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid in recent months have underscored the leaders' wish to keep bilateral ties strong, he added.