Singapore, Malaysia not yet ready to resolve all ‘complex’ bilateral issues

These issues include maritime boundaries, water, and airspace.

Singapore and Malaysia are not yet ready to resolve all their bilateral issues which include issues on maritime boundaries, water, and airspace, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat joint press conference held in Malysia.

According to Wong, these are longstanding and complex issues in nature.

“Since I visited last year at the introductory visit, both Prime Minister Anwar and I have asked the officials to meet. They have done so across all of these issues, on maritime boundaries, on water, and on airspace. They have had good discussions. Some progress has been made, but we are not ready to resolve all of them yet, because they are complex,” Wong said.

Wong also said that it is important to give officials time to meet, talk to one another, understand each other's positions and come up with an agreement and an outcome that is durable and that is beneficial for both sides.

“Prime Minister Anwar and I are fully committed to doing so, to having good faith conversations and discussions in a manner that is constructive, that will discuss the issues holistically and make sure that these outstanding matters do not ever detract from our overall relationship. That is why we are still able to move forward on positive win-win projects like the SEZ and the RTS,” Wong said.