Singapore, Malaysia leaders seek to ease tensions

PUTRAJAYA: Singapore and Malaysia’s leaders vowed to cooperate to solve disputes Tuesday after tensions between the neighbours over airspace and maritime boundaries, which followed a change of government in Malaysia. They have had fractious relations since Malaysia evicted Singapore from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, ending a brief and stormy union of the former British colonies. Ties have gone up and down over the years but have been shaky since Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad — who has long had a prickly relationship with Singapore — returned to the premiership with a shock election victory last year