Khaw

The persistent presence of Malaysian vessels in the hotly disputed maritime area near Tuas is “not conducive” to the bilateral discussions between Malaysia and Singapore, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony for the Mid-Life Upgrading Works for North-East Line Trains on Monday (17 Dec), Mr Khaw said that another vessel has been spotted lingering in the area on Monday after the Malaysian government had pulled out a vessel last week, leaving only one vessel at the time.

He also said that the specific number of vessels is immaterial, and that the crux of the issue is the presence of any unauthorised Malaysian vessels in Singapore’s waters.

“I don’t think it is a question of counting one, two, or three. Our preference, which we urge them to do, is to withdraw the ships because it is not conducive,” said Mr Khaw.

“It is not necessary. It does not make a difference to (Malaysia’s) legal claim.”

Previously, Mr Khaw issued a stern warning against Malaysian vessels allegedly encroaching the territorial waters of Singapore, and declared that the Republic will not hesitate to take “firm actions” against further intrusions.

In a statement on 6 Dec, Mr Khaw added that in response to the “provocative action on the part of Malaysia”, Singapore will be extending port limits “within Singapore Territorial Waters” under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port Limits) (Amendment) Notification 2018 with immediate effect.

He elaborated that the extension “tracks the eastern boundary of the 1999 Johor Bahru Port Limits”.

“It is… a reaction to this provocative action on the part of Malaysia, but we do it properly, in accordance with international law, and certainly do not infringe on our neighbour’s rights.”

Mr Khaw also claimed that there have been “14 intrusions” by Malaysian vessels into Singapore’s maritime boundaries, with three vessels still present in Singapore as of Wednesday (5 Dec).

“Singapore had protested the repeated intrusions via three TPNs [Third Person Notes]”, said the minister, and highlighted that Singapore has urged Malaysia to “cease their intrusions and return to the status quo before 25 Oct 2018”.

Prior to 25 Oct, the contested area was not claimed by Malaysia and Singapore but on 25 Oct, Malaysia extended its port-limit to the area and Singapore soon followed to extend its port claim to the area on 6 Dec, which the Singapore authorities claimed to be intrusion by the Malaysian authorities.

“My main message today is… Back off. Leave our waters while we pursue sit-down dialogues and try to resolve it.”

“Our security agencies will continue to patrol the area, and respond to unauthorised activities on the ground. They have so far responded with restraint against aggressive actions by the Malaysian Government vessels,” said Mr Khaw.

On top of finding solutions to the maritime dispute, Singapore and Malaysia will carry out bilateral talks in the middle of next month to also discuss the airspace conflict regarding Seletar Airport’s Instrument Landing System, which has become a point of contention on Malaysia’s side due to the possibility of disruption in relation to Pasir Gudang’s development.

Meanwhile, touching on the progress made by MOT in terms of upgrading Singapore’s MRT and the Republic’s transport system as a whole, Mr Khaw said: “I’ve been in MOT now for three years … So compared to the first two years, I think this year, 2018, is a relatively successful one,” said Mr Khaw.

“I think we managed to make some progress.”

“Our #OneTransport team is pressing on in a combined effort to strengthen the reliability of our train service. 2018 has been a good year.

“We hope 2019 will be even better,” concluded Mr Khaw.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

6月19日迈入解封第二阶段 允五人聚会

政府跨部门防疫工作小组今日(15日)宣布,第二阶段解封将在本月19日开始,允许不超过五人的聚会,每户家庭也获允许接受不超过五人拜访。 不过,在公共场合民众仍受促戴口罩和尽可能保持社交距离。 第二阶段解封也意味着大部分商业活动可恢复正常。卫生部长颜金勇称,阻断措施结束后的过去两周,社区病例仍保持稳定,客工宿舍的传染率也有所下降,未有出现大型感染群。 可恢复的活动就包括可堂食、私人不惜、音乐课等,惟歌唱培训则除外。 零售商店、公园、体育馆和其他公共设施,包括游泳池、高尔夫球场、游乐场、保龄球馆和健身室也将重新开放。 在采取预防措施的情况下,也可以恢复在养老院的面对面访问。 所有乐龄人士保健服务,包括中医,美容服务、乐龄护理、活动中心等,将逐步被允许重新开放。但年长者仍受促留在家中。 不过,宗教活动、会议和大型商展仍不允许。

偷录女员工、私藏55段不雅视频 董事总经理入狱18周

46岁的董事总经理使用手机,偷录女性员工,并收藏了多达55段不雅视频,被判入狱18周。 一家制造业公司的董事经理,林立豪(Lin Li Hao,译音)因在工作旅程中,拍下女员工的视频,而被罚款600元。他甚至还拍摄了另外两名女子的不雅视频。 他之前曾因侮辱女性尊严,而面对15项控状,另有26项类似性质的控状仍在考量中。 据法庭资料显示,被告被控在和现年33岁的员工出差时,拍下对方的视频。他也被控在数年后的商务旅行中,再次拍下对方的如厕视频。 至到2016年5月,被告曾拍摄受害者在裕廊工业区办公室的如厕视频,并且多次在受害者和同事聊天时,拍下对方的裙底照。 被告在其他场合也曾拍下受害者的裙底视频,包括在世界城购物期间,以及在法庭文件中未披露的地点用餐和享用饮料时。 法庭获悉,被告和受害者从未有过男女朋友的恋爱关系,而被告却拍下了受害者的55个视频,受害者也在2016年离开公司。 控方指出,在受害者离职后,被告在2017年3月曾经拍摄一名陌生女子在其办公室如厕的视频,但是被告已不记得陌生女子的身份。 同月,一名28岁的审计公司女员工被聘到被告公司进行账目审计,被告也拍下女员工在办公室的如厕视频。 然而,当被告尝试在同年4月4日重蹈覆辙时,女员工在厕所隔间门的底部发现一部手机,她立刻冲出厕所,并发现被告在走廊上,于是报警。…

尚达曼:未来一年面对艰巨挑战 放眼未来一年创造10万就业与培训机会

国务资政兼社会政策统筹部长尚达曼坦言,未来半年至一年的时间,我们面对的重大和迫切的挑战,即使阻断措施后逐步放宽,仍有许多人可能因疫情失去工作。 全球经济前景暗淡,一些行业仍会招聘人员,而政府将尽力协助他们,但没人敢说冠病19疫情会持续多久,尚达曼称,恐怕明年的职缺将少得多。 尚达曼是在个人脸书发文表示,他领导的全国就业理事会,放眼未来一年,透过副总理王瑞杰公布的新心相连就业与技能配套(SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package),为求职者创造10万个就业和培训机会。 “要实现这一目标将是一项挑战,但我们可以通过劳资政的紧密协作,超越既定方法来取得成功。我们将竭尽所能在公共和私企创造这些机会。” 他表示理事会也特别关注本地中年和年长工友,大家都必须改变思维应对新局势,例如雇主不应认为年长工友“太老、资历过高、适应能力不足”而拒绝雇用。 “政府为雇主提供了有力支持,每个雇主都必须成为团队的一员,以应对就业挑战。”

Video inaccurately claims that cancelled Yale-NUS programme was designed to teach students how to protest illegally

Following the cancellation of the Yale-National University of Singapore College of Liberal…