Singapore wants to operate an airport very close to the border with southern Johor. It needs both the “northerly” and “southerly” approaches to land at the airport. I believe over time, the airport may grow busier and bigger. So the implications may be more daunting and protracted than we envisage now.
This is where I don’t really quite understand: if Singapore wants to use Malaysia’s airspace, do they just announce it and state it in their Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures and voila, they can start using it? Or do they need to consult and seek consent from Malaysia?
According to the video shown by Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, the flight path into the Seletar Airport would potentially affect the whole of Pasir Gudang and southern Johor.
Why would Malaysia subject itself to these restrictions just simply because Singapore needs the flight path to its airport situated so close to the border? Doesn’t the airspace belong to Malaysia?
I have one more question: If Malaysia has delegated the whole southern Johor airspace since 1974 to Singapore for air traffic control purposes, does this mean Singapore can do whatever it wants?
As far as I know, the airspace in southern Johor, up to the border with Singapore, belongs to Malaysia. Malaysia shall decide whether or not it wants to take control of the airspace so that no future surprises may surface.
I think we should all get our bearings right: Does Malaysia need a “technical excuse” to “trigger demand” to take control of the airspace that was delegated to Singapore in 1974? The words in inverted commas are words I read in the news reports as said by the transport minister of Singapore.
If Singapore wishes to discuss issues with Malaysia “in good faith”, it must recognise whose territory and whose property we are talking about here. Don’t be condescending and don’t always think Malaysia is made up of fools.
As for the maritime dispute, it is better that we look at the issue properly and objectively. If certain stretches of the border have not been settled, it is better not to claim that it is yours.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.