The ensuing tension between Malaysia and Singapore is unnecessary and can be avoided by implementing the new Instrumental Landing System (ILS) procedures for Runway 03 on the southern side of Seletar Airport, as opposed to Runway 21 on the northern side, said Malaysia's Ministry of Transport (MoT Malaysia).

On this new development, MoT Malaysia in a statement today expressed its sincere appreciation to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) for its commitment to develop the instrument flight procedures for Runway 03 within Singapore's sovereign airspace.

"MoT Malaysia is fully convinced that with some creativity, the new ILS procedures for Runaway 03 on the southern side of Seletar Airport, which was guaranteed by by CAAS during the meeting with CAAM (Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia) on Nov 29, 2018, would not impose any additional impact on other airspace users, businesses and residents in Singapore," it said.

Malaysia has protested against the Singapore new ILS runway approach protocol at Seletar Airport, which encroaches into Malaysian airspace, and is due to come into force on Jan 3.

The ILS procedure refers to an assisted navigational aviation facility at the airport which provides vertical and horizontal guidance to pilots while the flight is descending and approaching the runway.

In today's statement, MoT Malaysia is of the view that Singapore's unilateral move to publish the new ILS procedures for Seletar Airport in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) is indeed a clear violation of Malaysia's sovereignty and international standards.

MoT Malaysia in the statement also reiterated that CAAM had not agreed nor given its approval for the publication of the new ILS procedures.

With reference to MoT Singapore's statement on Dec 10, MoT Malaysia said it fully agreed that it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges.

"It is a matter of principle for MoT Malaysia not to release correspondence between the parties to address media queries and to garner public support," the ministry said.

On Monday, Malaysia called for full disclosure over the disputed Seletar Airport flight path by releasing more letters, after MoT Singapore on Dec 4 released documents related to consultations held with Malaysia on the proposed ILS procedures, which MoT Malaysia described the disclosure as "partial and selective".

MoT Singapore in its response said it would be useful for negotiations to be kept confidential to facilitate frank and constructive exchanges, adding "this is why we have not released any other correspondence between Singapore and Malaysia on this matter."

MoT Malaysia said the discussion on Nov 30 only reviewed the record of discussion a day earlier (Nov 29) particularly on the Operational Letter of Agreement 1974 and Malaysia's decision to take back sovereignty airspace delegated to Singapore for the provision of air traffic services, and the new ILS procedures for Seletar Airport.

"To this, MoT Malaysia wishes to reiterate that at no time did CAAM, neither agreed nor gave its approval for the publication of the new ILS procedures for the Seletar airport.

- Bernama