Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today the republic will deal with all new and outstanding matters with Malaysia "calmly and constructively".

Lee said Singapore and Malaysia must manage specific problems, however difficult, while preserving the overall relationship.

"The way to do so is through equality and mutual respect, upholding international commitments and the rule of law," he said in his 2019 New Year Message.

Lee said older Singaporeans will remember that "this is how we dealt with previous rough patches in bilateral relations”.

"Each time we would unite as one people, and stand our ground calmly but firmly," he said.

The prime minister expressed confidence that "this time, too, Singaporeans will work closely together to keep relations with Malaysia stable, and a new generation will learn how to collectively protect our vital interests while living in peace and friendship with our neighbours”.

Lee highlighted that several issues have recently arisen between the two countries "as they will from time to time between two close neighbours tightly bound by history, economics, culture and kinship”.

"When Malaysia wanted to defer the High-Speed Rail project, Singapore worked with them to accommodate their needs," he said.

He noted that the new disputes on maritime boundaries, and on airspace, particularly the Instrument Landing System (ILS) rules for Seletar Airport, "are more difficult to resolve”.

Lee said: "Malaysia also wants to revise the price of Johor water, an old issue recently revived, on which Singapore’s stand is quite clear."

- Bernama