Malaysia, Singapore resume talks on long-standing disputes

Asian Political News, Dec 13, 2004

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Dec. 13 Kyodo

After a lapse of two years, Malaysia and Singapore relaunched a round of talks Monday to resolve long-standing disputes ranging from water supply to a new bridge linking the two historically linked, but quarrelsome, neighbors.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held a 90-minute meeting with Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong in the federal administrative capital Putrajaya to lay down the foundation for future talks.

Goh told a joint press conference that Malaysia would consider Singapore's air force flying planes through Malaysian airspace and in return, Singapore ''has no hesitation'' in releasing the pension funds contributed by Malaysians working in the city state.

It has been reported that about 2.26 billion ringgit (about $600 million) of Malaysian money is locked in the fund known as the Central Provident Fund.

''It is not very difficult. We believe it can be resolved as quickly as possible,'' Abdullah said.

They also discussed jointly developing railway land owned by Malaysia in Singapore.

Abdullah has also submitted a new proposal for a bridge linking the two countries to replace the current causeway, which spans the Johor Strait.

It would be a straight bridge instead of the controversial ''crooked'' half bridge announced by Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad last year.

Mahathir had decided to go ahead with building a 1.1 billion ringgit bridge that curved at an angle to join up at the midsection of the current causeway because Singapore had rejected the plan.

Relations between the two countries have been touchy and talks to settle the outstanding disputes broke down in 2002 despite several rounds of meetings.

But new warmth has been generated from both sides after Abdullah, a former foreign ministers, took over from Mahathir in October last year and Singapore saw a change in leadership this August when Lee Hsieng Loong replaced Goh as prime minister.

Lee then appointed Goh to head the negotiations.

The two sides have asked senior officials and ministers to discuss the issues in detail, including the supply of water from Malaysia to resource-scarce Singapore.

''We do not have definite positions in terms of details and the agreement we have together is we must move forward. We have decided two months from now we will have detailed responses to the matters we are going to look into now,'' Abdullah said.

Once part of Malaysia, Singapore separated in 1965 and ties have never fully healed.

''We must not allow the future relation between Singapore and Malaysia to be held hostage by past issues,'' Goh said.

Abdullah, stressing Malaysia values the relationship, said, ''We want the relationship to be strong, to be friendly.''