Protecting Johor River's condition more vital than raising water price: Vivian Balakrishnan
SINGAPORE — Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Wednesday (8 May) that, while Malaysia wants to raise the price of supplying its water from Johor to Singapore, the more pertinent concerns for Singapore are to increase the yield of the Johor River, and to safeguard its environmental conditions especially the quality of water.
Dr Balakrishnan was providing an update on the state of bilateral relations between the two countries, following last month’s Malaysia-Singapore Leaders Retreat in Putrajaya.
He revealed that he and his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah have been tasked to follow up on the water issues raised at the retreat. This include identifying appropriate and timely measures, including additional schemes, to increase the Johor River’s yield and to safeguard the river’s environmental conditions.
‘Grave concerns’ over multiple pollution incidents
During the retreat, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had highlighted Singapore’s “grave concerns” about the multiple pollution incidents which have affected the Johor River, such as the recent case of ammonia pollution last month.
“This is the seventh pollution incident in the Johor River since 2017, which led to a shutdown of our (Johor River) Waterworks,” Dr Balakrishnan said.
“Further, Johor has built at least two water treatment plants upstream of PUB’s Johor River Waterworks, and we also note that the future demands for water in Johor will increase.
“These two Malaysian plants, combined with our Johor River Waterworks, are currently drawing more water from the Johor River than it can yield on a sustainable basis.
“These issues, if not addressed, will compromise Singapore’s right to abstract our full 250 mgd (million gallons per day) entitlement of water under the 62WA (1962 Water Agreement). They will also affect the water supply for Johor’s own growing needs, and action needs to be taken expeditiously to avoid a potentially more intractable issue in the future.”
S’pore prepared to provide bilateral assistance
Responding to a query by Nominated Member of Parliament, Associate Professor Walter Theseira, on whether Singapore is prepared to provide bilateral assistance to Malaysia to safeguard the Johor River watershed, Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore has already been doing so for a very long time.
He cited the example of the construction of the Linggiu River dam, which has been operating since the 1990s.
“I would have to remind everyone, including the Malaysians, that Singapore paid for it,” he said. “We paid for its construction, we paid compensation; in fact, our estimate is that over the years, we’ve probably spent over $1 billion on such projects.
“So there should be no question about our willingness to engage and assist on a technical level in order to further projects which ultimately have win-win consequences for both Johor and Singapore in the long term.
“I should also add that these investments that we have made in Linggiu Reservoir – ultimately, they are owned by Malaysia... I say all this so that I hope the Malaysian people appreciate that Singapore has been a constructive, helpful, reliable and honest partner.”
Challenges in maintaining quality of water supply
Dr Balakrishnan added that the challenge facing Malaysia in maintaining that quality of assured water supply is not just a technical one. It also means having strict laws against littering and pollution, and careful long-term planning what type of economic activities are allowed in the water catchment area.
“The authorities in Johor are aware of this, and within their own limits, they are trying to address it,” he added. “I do want to add one more point – that actually PUB has an excellent relationship with the water agencies in Johor. We’ve worked very well. There is no problem at the technical level.”
Updates on rail projects
Dr Balakrishnan also provided an update on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project. He said that Singapore will consider Malaysia’s proposal to suspend the project for six months from 1 April, similar to the arrangements made for the suspension of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail project.
“Both sides are currently working out the details of the Supplemental Agreement to effect this proposed suspension,” he said.
On the issue of congestion at the Causeway and Second Link, both Prime Ministers agreed to explore initiatives, including the use of new technology, for enhanced security and checkpoint efficiency. PM Lee shared Singapore’s plans to upgrade the Woodlands Checkpoint to meet growing traffic needs, and to ensure that immigration clearance remains secure.
“Singapore believes that the RTS Link and the HSR Projects are mutually beneficial projects that will significantly ease congestion, facilitate business and tourism, and bring the people of Malaysia and Singapore closer together,” Dr Balakrishnan said.
“Malaysia wants to review these projects, and we have agreed for this review to be done in the spirit of bilateral cooperation. The ball is now in their court, and we hope that Malaysia will find a way forward in the projects within the period of suspension that they have requested.”
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