JOHOR BARU, Oct 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there is a need for Malaysia and Singapore to jointly participate on enhancing the capacity of Johor River, which also supplies the republic’s water needs.
Anwar assured his Singapore counterpart Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that Malaysia will honour its long-standing commitment to settle any water supply issues between the two countries.
“To that end, we (Malaysia and Singapore) will have to also work jointly to ensure that Johor will be able to enhance the capacity of the Johor River.
“This is to also meet Johor’s expanding water needs and for Singapore’s as well.
“Instead of focussing solely on the price mechanism, we should also look at the possibility of Singapore participating in a joint effort on studies that can be conducted immediately on the Johor River,” said Anwar at a joint press conference with Lee from the 10th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Singapore today.
Later in a joint statement, Anwar said that he has consistently proposed that both countries not take any issues in isolation and look at larger concerns and the interest when finding solutions.
Citing the water supply issues that have been long running, he said Malaysia’s position is clear “that we have to honour the commitment of water from Johor to Singapore”.
At present, Singapore buys raw water from Johor at the price of 3 sen per 1,000 gallons. The republic also sells back treated water to Johor for 50 sen per 1,000 gallons.
On airspace issues, Anwar said there is some agreement on the perimeters and described it as “some remarkable feat" in terms of both bilateral relations.
He said both countries leaders have agreed to review the delegation arrangements for the provision of air traffic services over southern Peninsular Malaysia.
“These were recommended and approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1973 and implemented through the Operational Letter of Agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Area Control Centres concerning Singapore Arrivals, Departures and Overflights 1974.
“This review shall be in accordance with ICAO’s requirements for safe and efficient air traffic management as well as accommodate both countries’ current and future operational needs,” said the joint statement.
Both leaders will task the respective transport ministers to deliberate and agree on a set of principles and outcomes to guide both civil aviation authorities to move forward as expeditiously as possible.
Anwar has been in Singapore from yesterday for the 10th Malaysia–Singapore Leaders‘ Retreat that is hosted by Singapore.
The two-day retreat, which is a key annual platform for both the prime ministers to meet and discuss bilateral issues, is the first one to be held since the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
