Extract of transcript of SM Goh Chok Tong’s Interview with Journalists from the Regional Journalist Visit Programme and Indian Journalist Visit Programme, in Conjunction with Global Entrepolis @ Singapore, 14 October 2004

Dorothy Teoh: "Senior Minister, regarding Singapore-Malaysia bilateral ties, well, the issues are complex. How do you propose to go about resolving them and will you be setting a timeframe for the resolution?"

SM: "It's not advisable to set a timeframe, because then you are under an artificial deadline. If you don't meet the timeframe, everybody will comment that there has been no progress in the negotiations - it is a failure. That would in itself complicate matters. The issues have been there for many years - some as many as 10 years -so we can wait a few more months, if necessary. Well, I have told my MFA to tell Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's office that I will make a visit to Kuala Lumpur before the year is up. So that is the first step to make progress on our bilateral negotiations on the issues which are still outstanding."

Dorothy Teoh: "Well, I was just wondering whether there will be a change in the way that these issues have been dealt. For example, will the package of issues be broken up and dealt with separately? Will some issues be fast-tracked, for instance?"

SM: "Malaysia has signalled that it would like to break up the package into individual components. I mean, that was decided by (former) Prime Minister Mahathir and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi also preferred to deal with it issue by issue. So if that is his preferred approach, we would accept his approach. But I would not want to, as I've agreed with Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, negotiate through the press. So I would not give any inkling as to Singapore's position on the negotiations. I would not be signalling to Malaysia through the press on what our expectations are. It's a sensitive process, as you can appreciate. So it's best that I meet Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi privately and then we try to resolve the issues. Now, the point I want to make is that we have a new Prime Minister in Singapore. He and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi should look forward. They should not be bogged down by outstanding issues from the past. I am honoured that both Prime Ministers have confidence in me, using me as the interlocutor to resolve the issues."

Dorothy Teoh: "Do you think that, well, you're said to have a warm personal relationship with Pak Lah, So how much of a bearing do you think this will help?"

SM: "Oh, it's important. Trust is important. And because of this warm relationship, there is trust. I trust him and I hope he trusts me as well. And if we negotiate, if I tell him this is what I can do, this is what I can't do and I propose to resolve it in a certain way, he can be sure that behind what I've offered, there'll be no tricks, there's nothing hidden. So, this trust element is an important issue when you negotiate."

Dorothy Teoh: "Which (i.e. trust) was missing in the past?"

SM: "Which was less conspicuous in the past. But let me emphasise that he (Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi) would have to look after the national interests of Malaysia and I have to look after the national interests of Singapore. It doesn't mean that because of trust, we can resolve all issues, because there are certain issues which are in fact difficult to resolve."

Dorothy Teoh: "In particular?"

SM: "I do not want to specify the issues. It only complicates matters. But I would try to resolve these issues. It makes no sense for us to be bogged down by these issues. Let's look forward and cooperate for mutual benefit. There is much to gain by working together,"

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