Malaysia rejects S'pore's ultimatum
Island's
stance likely to send relations into nose dive
South China Morning Post Jan 22, 1999
IAN STEWART in Kuala Lumpur
A MONTH after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his Singapore
counterpart, Goh Chok Tong, agreed at a meeting during the Asean summit
in Hanoi on a new approach to resolving outstanding bilateral
problems, their countries' often-ruffled relations appear set for another
nose dive.
The Singapore government has not only delivered a blunt ultimatum to bring about a resolution of one issue but has also brusquely rebuffed the Malaysians on a second matter.
It set a one-month deadline for the settlement of whether Malaysia has a legal claim to retain customs and immigration facilities for rail travellers at Tanjong Pagar in the centre of Singapore and said many details had to be worked out before a new bridge between the two countries could be built by a Malaysian consortium.
Singapore officials have been critical of the Malaysian authorities for dragging their feet on the first issue and jumping the gun on the second.
Singapore moved its facilities from the Tanjong Pagar terminal to the border in July in what was seen as a bid to force Malaysia to discuss the development of the railway land it has owned in Singapore since British colonial times.
Singapore's Foreign Minister, S. Jayakumar, told parliament that if Malaysia did not reply by the deadline it would be assumed Kuala Lumpur no longer wished to pursue its claim that it had a legal right to remain at Tanjong Pagar.
"When Malaysia refused the Singapore Air Force permission to fly over Malaysia, Singapore acknowledged their sovereignty," he said.
"We expect them to acknowledge our sovereignty."
He also said any proposal for a new bridge must be agreed to by the two governments.
"When the Singapore government receives a serious proposal from the Malaysian government, we will study it and do a cost benefit analysis," he said.
Malaysia's new Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said: "It should be settled as a package as agreed on earlier by both countries.
He said the question of Malaysia disputing Singapore's sovereignty and the setting of pre-conditions over the dispute did not arise.
"Our position is clear. It is not a question of Singapore giving one month or two months or three months [to submit arguments]."
But in Johor, the Malaysian state adjacent to Singapore, an official said construction of the bridge, which is estimated to cost M$1.5 billion, would begin next year.
Published in the South China Morning Post. Jan 22, 1999