Debated in Parliament on 4 Aug 2026.
Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the freedom of passage through the Straits of Malacca (a) what are our ongoing partnerships and collaboration with the countries bordering the Straits; and (b) what are the geopolitical contestations amongst the big powers over the Straits and our responses or collective positionings for these.
The right of transit passage applies in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as it is considered a Straits Used for International Navigation. This right is provisioned under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which enshrines navigational rights and freedoms. This right is also customary international law that all States are bound by.
Cooperation between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore as littoral States bordering this critical waterway predates UNCLOS. A series of Tripartite Ministerial Meetings in the 1970s led Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to adopt a common position on matters relating to the Straits of Malacca and Singapore – namely, that the safety of navigation is the responsibility of the three littoral States. We established the Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG) in 1975 and jointly implemented the Traffic Separation Scheme in 1981 to enhance the safety of ships navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was jointly launched by the three littoral States in 2007, following meetings that involved the littoral States and interested user States that included the major maritime nations. The Co-operative Mechanism was established under the TTEG framework and supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). While the littoral States continue to jointly decide on matters relating to the Straits through TTEG, the Co-operative Mechanism has served as a key platform for the three littoral States to engage in dialogue and undertake projects with all users, whether they are States, shipping industry and other stakeholders.
The establishment of the Co-operative Mechanism was both historic and significant in that it realised, for the first time, the spirit and intent of Article 43 of UNCLOS on cooperation between littoral and user States. It is a good example of how the three littoral States and users can work together to enhance safety of navigation and environmental protection in Straits Used for International Navigation, in full compliance with UNCLOS. It gives users, including the major maritime nations, an open and inclusive avenue to participate and contribute to efforts to ensure that the Straits remain open and safe, while recognising the sovereignty of the littoral States.
The Co-operative Mechanism has three complementary and inter-connected components. It comprises the Co-operation Forum for dialogue on issues of common interests concerning the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Project Co-ordination Committee overseeing implementation of projects to enhance navigational safety and environmental protection, and the Aids to Navigation Fund which receives voluntary financial contributions from the international maritime community for the provision and maintenance of critical aids to navigation.
Keeping the Straits of Malacca and Singapore open and safe, is essential to maintaining security and stability. Singapore continues to work with all parties in the international community that share interest in continued freedom of navigation, such as at IMO and the United Nations.
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