January 11, 2019

Assistant Professor Lin Weiqiang from the NUS Department of Geography wrote a forum letter on the Singapore-Malaysia maritime and aerial boundary disputes in The Straits Times.

In the letter, A/P Lin briefly explains the recent developments in the dispute. For one, Malaysia wants to reclaim International Civil Aviation Organization or ICAO-delegated airspace over Johor. It also sent government vessels to remain in the waters demarcated in the 1995 Malaysia-Singapore boundary treaty agreement, without consulting Singapore.

A/P Lin argues that while Malaysia has exerted its right to lodge its concerns with Singapore, doing so through presumptive moves and provocative threats does not do it any favours. This is because such antagonism adversely affects Malaysia’s credibility as an observer of international law, as well as its image as a trustworthy partner in international dealings. Such sudden claims make Malaysian leaders appear bitter and divided as well. It would have been more productive to channel such energy into addressing more pertinent issues at home instead.

Thus, A/P Lin encourages both Singaporean and Malaysian citizens to urge their governments to put an end to this dispute. He stresses that this dispute inhibits the collaborative potential between these countries.

Read the forum letter here.