SINGAPORE — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir is confident that bilateral issues involving Malaysia and Singapore will continue to be discussed in a “constructive and productive context.”

It is very important for both countries to hold a discussion session or negotiation that can provide good results “not for one side but for both sides.”

Zambry said this to the Malaysian media at a ‘Meet and Greet’ session late last night – immediately after meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

He was in Singapore in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to the republic today. Anwar is expected to arrive around 9.30 am.

According to Zambry, the meeting between him and Balakrishnan was to discuss matters related to bilateral relations and also as a preliminary preparation for the two leaders to hold a meeting today.

“We also discussed some matters related to issues involving both countries that require mutual understanding for us to resolve.

“In terms of the issue, there are not so many that require immediate steps for us to resolve, but it involves several important matters to be looked at together and make a decision together,” he said.

Among the related issues include Maritime Boundary Delimitation, Flight Information Region, as well as several other matters in terms of mutual agreements that have been made so far.

The minister said Malaysia and Singapore have always had similarities and the same expectations to see the region in ideal condition.

“In other words, this discussion or negotiation needs to continue in the spirit of good neighbourly relations with good intentions and a genuine desire for us to solve various issues.

“It is so that every matter that is discussed will not just be on one side; it must be able to reach a win-win decision and that will be able to bring the results of the decision made for us to move forward in a better way in the future,” he explained.

Malaysia, he said, hopes that any form of discussion or negotiation that is made in the future will not be a zero sum game.

“We want to get a really constructive decision. This also involves matters related to sea boundaries which may have been an issue as well as attention at the Malaysian level,” he said.

As part of the one-day visit today, a busy schedule awaits the prime minister, who is also expected to hold a face to face meeting with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana. — BERNAMA