KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian government on Tuesday said that it would send an objection letter to Singapore over commercial planes flying low over Malaysian airspace as they head to Singapore's new Seletar Airport.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook told parliament that the protest note by Malaysia's foreign ministry comes in wake of Singapore's decision to start broadcasting the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport early next year.
"The government had decided not to allow Singapore to broadcast its ILS, with this decision conveyed to Singapore on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29," the minister said.
"The government through the Foreign Ministry will issue a protest note immediately to Singapore in connection to the breach of this principle of sovereignty," the minister said when answering a question raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) from the affected area.
The MP had asked the minister what the government would do about the low flying aircraft as there would be height restrictions imposed on structures, noise pollution and disruption to shipping activities at the nearby Pasir Gudang port in the Malaysian state of Johor, just 2 km from the border with Singapore.
Malaysian budget airline Firefly had recently suspended its operations after it failed to get the green light from Malaysian authorities to relocate its operations from Singapore's Changi Airport to Malaysia's Seletar Airport.
According to the minister, the Malaysian government will have a detailed discussion with Singapore on the gated airspace and will refer to International Civil Aviation Organization if needed.
