Ministry of Transport Statement in Response to Media Queries on Malaysia Ministry of Transport’s Statement of 10 December 2018 on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) Procedures for Seletar Airport

1.     In response to media queries on MOT Malaysia’s media statement of 10 December 2018 that Singapore had selectively published documents related to the Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport, we would like to explain that Singapore had released correspondence on 4 December 2018 to address media queries as to whether CAAS had consulted CAAM in December 2017. The queries arose from Malaysia’s inaccurate claim earlier in the day that this matter had only come to their attention two months ago (October 2018).

2.     Singapore’s view is that it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges. This is why we have not released any other correspondence between Singapore and Malaysia on this matter. The Malaysia Minister for Transport, Anthony Loke, had expressed a similar view on 4 December 2018.

3.     Nonetheless, we have no objection if Malaysia feels the need to release correspondence on this matter. However, we observe that the Malaysia Ministry of Transport has only mentioned its letters from October and November 2018. For transparency, Malaysia should ensure that all correspondence and records of discussions between Singapore and Malaysia be published, including the record of discussion of the latest meeting between the two countries on 29-30 November 2018.