Two of Singapore's Cabinet ministers visited Putrajaya, Malaysia on Dec. 31, 2018 to deliver an important message.

According to a media release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Jan. 1, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat travelled to Malaysia's capital to meet with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

They delivered a message on behalf of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Foreign Ministers to meet

MFA revealed that plans had been made for the two Foreign Ministers of both countries, Vivian Balakrishnan and Saifuddin Abdullah, will meet in Singapore on Jan. 8.

Vivian and Saifuddin previously spoke to each other in Dec. 2018 to discuss the maritime border dispute.

There are also plans for the transport ministers of both countries to meet, but no further details have been released for that meeting.

That would mean Singapore's transport minister Khaw Boon Wan will meet with Anthony Loke, the Malaysian minister who claimed in December 2018 that he wanted to "defend Malaysia's national sovereignty" with regards to the airspace over Southern Johor.

Khaw will therefore have the opportunity to educate Loke that airspace management is about safety and efficiency of air traffic, and not national sovereignty.

PM Lee gave an update on Singapore-Malaysia relations

On the same day that Teo and Heng met with Mahathir, PM Lee delivered his own New Year's Eve message to the public.

On relations with Malaysia, he said: "We hope to maintain a constructive partnership with Malaysia, and look forward to the new leaders on both sides developing good working relations with one another."

However, he did note that several disputes had cropped up in our bilateral relationship, and said that international commitments and the rule of law will be upheld.

PM Lee also mentioned Heng in his speech, and said that the decision made by the PAP to select Heng as their next leader was a "good outcome".

Heng has also commented on the maritime territorial dispute recently

In a brief Facebook post on Dec. 9, Heng wrote that intrusions by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore territorial waters “are a violation of Singapore’s sovereignty and international law”.

He said that it was a serious matter of national interest and Singapore would not hesitate to take firm actions to protect Singapore's sovereignty and territory.

He also expressed his hope that Singapore and Malaysia discuss issues constructively and peacefully, in compliance with international law.

Related stories:

Top image from Heng Swee Keat's Facebook page.