This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on December 13, 2018 - December 19, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: The transport ministry (MoT) views Singapore’s unilateral move to publish the new instrument landing system (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport as a clear violation of Malaysia’s sovereignty, besides international law and standards.

The ministry said in a statement it is a matter of principle for the MoT not to release correspondences between the parties to address media queries and to garner public support.

“With reference to the Singaporean ministry of transport’s statement released on Dec 10, 2018, the MoT of Malaysia fully agrees that it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges,” it said.

“The discussion on Nov 30, 2018 only reviewed the record of discussion that took place on Nov 29, 2018, particularly on the Operational Letter of Agreement 1974 and Malaysia’s decision to take back our sovereign airspace delegated to Singapore for the provision of air traffic services, as well as the new ILS procedures for Seletar Airport,” the MoT said, reiterating that at no time did the civil aviation authority of Malaysia (CAAM) agree or give its approval for the publication of the new ILS procedures for Seletar Airport.

According to the MoT, the ensuing tension between Malaysia and Singapore is unnecessary and can be avoided by implementing the new ILS procedures for runway three on the southern side of Seletar Airport as opposed to runway 21 on the northern side of the airport.

“On this new development, MoT Malaysia would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the CAAS (Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore) for its commitment to developing the instrument flight procedures for runway three within Singapore’s sovereign airspace.

“MoT Malaysia is fully convinced that with some creativity, the new ILS procedures for runway three on the southern side of Seletar Airport, guaranteed by the CAAS during the meeting with the CAAM on Nov 29, 2018, would not impose any additional impact on other airspace users as well as businesses and residents in Singapore,” the MoT said.