PMs Wong and Anwar pledge to resolve water, other issues amicably

The leaders say Singapore, Malaysia will also seek new areas of cooperation

- Chin Soo Fang

Singapore and Malaysia are committed to resolving outstanding bilateral issues such as airspace, water and maritime borders, as well as taking the bilateral relationship to even greater heights through new cooperation.

Both Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim affirmed this at a joint press conference on June 12 at Seri Perdana, the Malaysian PM’s official residence in Putrajaya.

“While the issues are complex and may take some time to resolve, we are fully committed to managing them in a way that will enable our overall bilateral relationship to continue to flourish,” said PM Wong.

Agreeing, PM Anwar said it would be “wonderful, marvellous” if they could be resolved before the two leaders’ annual retreat at the end of the year, but admitted that he may be “a bit ambitious”.

Yet, if Singapore and Malaysia can resolve these issues, it would show the region and the world how good neighbours behave and interact, added Datuk Seri Anwar. “So I look forward to that sort of a final amicable resolution.”

PM Wong, who was on his first overseas trip since he was sworn in as prime minister in May, said his priority during the visit to Kuala Lumpur was to forge a good relationship with Mr Anwar, building on the strong ties that Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong had established with Malaysia’s leader.

“I think we have done so today over a lovely meal and durians for dessert,” he said.

Establishing that strong rapport and trust will let both leaders send a clear message to each side’s ministers and officials to negotiate and discuss outstanding issues in the right spirit, in a way that will arrive at win-win outcomes, said PM Wong.