KL defends move on Singapore jet clearances<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia defended on Friday its move
\nto end blanket clearance for Singapore military aircraft to enter
\nits air space giving only 24 hours notice of the move.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Syed Hamid Albar acknowledged that a six-
\nmonth notice was required for any such moves under the Five Power
\nDefense Arrangement for navigational training which also involves
\nBritain, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\"But in the same agreement, there is a provision stipulating
\nthat Malaysia can give appropriate notice if necessary,\" he was
\nreported as saying by Bernama news agency.<\/p>\n
\"Looking at the strategic situation, population density and
\nthe need to use the airspace to serve our own needs, the 24-hour
\nnotice is adequate,\" Syed Hamid said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia informed Singapore on Thursday that all special
\narrangements and waivers previously granted to the city-state
\nwould be withdrawn, and that Singapore air force will have to
\nacquire clearance beginning on Friday.<\/p>\n
Singapore's defense ministry said on Thursday that the Kuala
\nLumpur government had taken the decision without prior
\nconsultation or advance notification as agreed upon by the two
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Singapore's air force has \"alternative arrangements to ensure
\nthat its operational effectiveness is not compromised and that
\nits training will not be affected\", the defense ministry's
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid said on Friday the decision was permanent and his
\nministry would consider future requests by Singapore military
\nafter taking into account Malaysia's interests.<\/p>\n
He repeatedly denied the move was in retaliation for Singapore
\nSenior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs, which recounted the
\nbitter separation between Singapore and Malaysia in 1965.<\/p>\n
\"It is very silly to react to situational things which will
\naffect our long-term relations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid explained he had prepared a paper urging the
\ncabinet to review the use of Malaysian airspace by Singapore jets
\nafter residents in southern Johore state complained of noise
\npollution.<\/p>\n
Although the cabinet approved the decision, it only gave
\npermission to enforce the rule two weeks ago, he added.
\nAsked if the decision would affect joint exercises with
\nSingapore, Syed Hamid said Malaysia had no bilateral defense
\nagreement with Singapore but such exercises could be held if
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n
The move comes as the two nations go through a rough patch in
\nrelations which took another bad turn earlier this week following
\nthe publication of Lee's new autobiography, in which he blamed
\nMalaysia for instigating Singapore's deadly racial riots of 1964.<\/p>\n
Among the privileges to be terminated are the waiver of
\nclearance for Singapore jets when transiting Malaysia's Johore
\nstate, and for training within Malaysian air force low-flying
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Singapore's navigational training over Malaysian air space and
\nthe two countries' combined search and rescue operations will
\nalso cease.<\/p>\n
Syed Hamid was among several Malaysian leaders who have
\naccused Lee of manipulating history in his book, released in
\nSingapore on Wednesday on his 75th birthday.<\/p>\n
Largely ethnic Chinese Singapore was ejected from the
\nMalaysian federation on August 9, 1965 after a two-year union,
\nfollowing a dispute over preferential treatment for indigenous
\nMalays.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-defends-move-on-singapore-jet-clearances-1447893297",
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