Seletar airport in Singapore. - Filepic
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is not against the development of Singapore's Seletar Airport, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He, however, added that Malaysia opposes the use of the airspace above Pasir Gudang in Johor.
Loke said that Singapore had every right to develop the Seletar Airport as it is built within their territory.
“I would like to stress that we have nothing against Seletar Airport. Our opposition is only towards the ILS (Instrument Landing System) above Pasir Gudang.
“If they want to develop the airport and the flight path is over Singapore airspace, then that has nothing to do with us,” said Loke at a press conference after his ministry's monthly assembly here on Tuesday (Dec 4).
Earlier in Parliament, Loke had said that Malaysia will issue a protest note to Singapore over the operation of the ILS to be used by Seletar Airport near its border with Johor.
The protest note by Wisma Putra comes in the wake of Singapore's decision to start broadcasting the ILS at Seletar Airport early next year despite Malaysia's decision not allow it on grounds that it will infringe the nation's sovereignty and airspace near Pasir Gudang, Johor some 2km away.
"The broadcast is against the principle of national sovereignty as accorded under the Convention of Civil Aviation 1944.
"The government, through Wisma Putra, will issue a protest note immediately to Singapore in connection to the breach of this principle of sovereignty," he said when answering a question raised by Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) during Minister's Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (Dec 4).
Loke informed MPs that the ILS would affect development in Pasir Gudang as there would be height restrictions imposed on structures and also affect shipping activities at the Pasir Gudang port.
"The government had decided not to allow Singapore to broadcast its ILS, with this decision conveyed to Singapore on Nov 28 and 29," he said.
However, despite this, Loke said Singapore would begin broadcasting its ILS on Jan 3.
"The government is committed towards defending our sovereignty and to ensure that the nation's interest is safeguarded," Loke said to thumps of approval from lawmakers.
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