Malaysia Denies Talk of a Rupture of Links With Singapore
International Herald Tribune
March 28, 1997
Michael Richardson 

Malaysia sought Thursday to play down reports of a major new breach in relations with Singapore, with ministers denying that the cabinet had decided to freeze official ties with the island-state.

A statement issued in Kuala Lumpur by the acting Malaysian foreign minister, Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha, said that the government was "studying the implications" of recent tensions with Singapore but that no decision had been made to freeze ties.

But the national press agency, Bernama, quoted Sabbaruddin Chik, the culture, arts and tourism minister, as saying that tourism, cultural and sporting links had been suspended.

Reports Wednesday of a wider and more serious freeze on official ties were given prominence in the Malaysian, Singaporean and international media, causing shares in both countries to fall Thursday. The two neighbors — whose economic rivalry and political discord have become increasingly evident in recent weeks — have extensive trade, investment and other links.

Analysts said that Malaysian ministers were evidently divided over how to handle relations with Singapore.

On a visit Thursday to Tokyo, Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia said that the issue with Singapore was not a major problem and would be overcome with time.

The Bernama press agency, which usually reflects government views, reported Wednesday that the cabinet had decided to halt official dealings with Singapore, including talks between the ruling parties and the award of new government contracts to Singapore companies.

Malaysian officials said that the government had decided to "cool off ties for now" with Singapore as a sign of continuing displeasure at what was seen as lack of sincerity by some Singapore leaders. The cabinet meeting Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur followed an official Malaysian protest earlier this month over remarks by Singapore's senior minister, Lee Kuan Yew, in a court affidavit that the Malaysian state of Johor was "notorious for shootings, muggings and carjackings."

Mr. Lee later apologized and said he would apply to the court to have the offending passage removed. But Malaysian officials said that they were unhappy with the behavior of other Singapore leaders, including Mr. Lee's son, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who had signed the same affidavit as his father but had not apologized for the section on Johor or renounced it.

Mr. Abang said in his statement Thursday that "what is meant is that the government is studying the implications of the episode toward two-way relations with Singapore following the statement by Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on Johor and the reaction of the Singapore government toward the statement."

Earlier, Singaporeans expressed surprise and dismay at the reports that Malaysia had decided to freeze official ties. But a Singapore Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday night that the Singapore government had noted the statements from Prime Minister Mahathir and Mr. Abang. The spokesman said that Singapore had a continuing commitment to maintaining close bilateral relations with Malaysia but would let Malaysia set the pace and level of cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian railroad company, KTM Berhad, is to take legal action to evict people it says are occupying land it owns in Singapore, lawyers for the company said Thursday, according to Reuters.

KTM owns more than 200 hectares of land in Singapore on a 999-year lease, most of it on either side of a rail line to Kuala Lumpur. KTM's land holdings in Singapore were highlighted earlier by Mr. Mahathir as one of the difficult issues in its relations with Singapore. He said Singapore was pressing Malaysia to give up the land.

Copyright © 2006 The International Herald Tribune