The prime minister said he expected the matter to be resolved soon by the foreign affairs ministry, adding that relations between the two countries were still good.

“We will meet with Singapore, we don’t want to fight. Sometimes we have overlapping claims,” he explained.

He expressed confidence that the tension between the two states would ease “now” and “as soon as possible”.

But Mahathir said Malaysian ships would remain.

“Singapore vessels are there, Malaysian vessels are there,” he said.

On Oct 25, Putrajaya extended the Johor Bahru Port Limits, but was met with a strong response from Singapore who said the decision was unilateral.

The republic said the extension, which tracks the eastern boundary of the 1999 Johor Bahru Port Limits, was within its territorial waters.

Mahathir had then said Malaysia was within its rights to extend the Johor Bahru Port Limits, and denied trespassing into Singapore waters.

In response, Singapore extended the Singapore Port Limits off Tuas effective Dec 6.

Malaysia had recently proposed for both countries to cease and desist from sending assets into the disputed area effective Dec 8 pending discussions on outstanding maritime boundary issues. The idea was shot down by Singapore.

Singapore had said it was ready to discuss the issue with Malaysia “in a constructive manner”.