SINGAPORE – The meeting between Malaysia and Singapore is expected to touch on Pasir Gudang’s airspace issue, Johor, when Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah met with his Singapore counterpart, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, here today.
The two-way meeting was scheduled for an hour and followed by a delegation meeting.
Saifuddin was previously reported to have said that the issue of Pasir Gudang airspace by plane before landing at Seletar Airport, Singapore was one of the main points in the meeting.
He said his visit to Singapore was the continuation of a meeting between Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya on Dec 31.
Prior to this, he was reported to have said Malaysia was sticking to the stand that the plane that wanted to land at Seletar Airport could not use Malaysia’s airspace in Pasir Gudang.
“We protested and declared that the airspace was a limited area and this would be a problem for Singapore. I am confident this issue will be well discussed to achieve a win-win solution for both countries, “he said.
Malaysia also declared the creation of a permanent ban on the Pasir Gudang airspace effective January 1 with the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) issuing a Notice to the Pilot (NOTAM) on Dec 25.
Additionally, both Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss the issue of revision of water content under the 1962 Water Agreement.
The agreement which will end in 2061 saw Malaysia sell to the country 250 million gallons of raw water a day at three cents for every 1,000 gallons.
Malaysia then re-bought Singapore-treated water at 50 cents for every 1,000 gallons.
