Malaysia and Singapore heading for a water divorce?
The human body, as any child knows, is over 60 per cent water. The average adult should drink two litres of water per day. This very basic fact is a real problem because Singapore does not have enough water to meet its requirements.
When both Singapore and Malaysia gained independence from the British empire and then separated from each other in 1965 there was a problem; tiny Singapore was reliant on Malaysia for its water. So essential were these water agreements to Singapore that they were registered with the United Nations upon Singapore’s final separation from Malaysia as part of the Separation Agreement.
Malaysia, reeling from the 1998 financial crisis, needed money and the Singapore government said it was willing to help with a financial assistance and investment package. In 2011, the 1961 Agreement allowing Singapore to draw 85 million gallons a day from reservoirs in Johor lapsed. Fortunately, Singapore was able to fall back on the 1962 Agreement which allowed the island to draw 250 million gallons per day until 2062. This amount, together with Singapore’s increased domestic production, was more than enough for our requirements.
The 1962 Agreement is in force and can’t simply be revised. The Singapore government argues that if Malaysia is simply able to raise the price of water at will, Singapore will be left completely vulnerable to the whims of Malaysian politicians.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Anwar: Not all Malays in Umno, PAS | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was unfazed over the imminent union of Umno and PAS following a scheduled meet between the two parties at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today. The Port Dickson MP said Malay supporters are not only present in Umno and PAS, and...
Read more »
BN still needs support from non-Malays, non-Muslims, Umno veep insists | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has clarified his statement on the Semenyih by-election result, insisting that Barisan Nasional (BN) still requires the support of the non-Malay and non-Muslim community. He explained that he was only speaking in the...
Read more »
Survey: Malays, Indians jobseekers likely to face discrimination | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 7 — Malays and Indians are more likely to experience discrimination when applying for jobs in the private sector, especially women of the two ethnicities, a survey by a think tank found. The Centre for Governance and Political Studies said its study concluded that Malays and...
Read more »
Azmin: Umno never cared about Bumiputeras and Malays — they’re still struggling | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 7 — Datuk Seri Azmin Ali has accused Umno of never addressing the plight of Bumiputeras and Malays, and only being interested in helping its cronies. The economic affairs minister said despite ruling the country for over 60 years, most Malays were still disadvantaged. “They...
Read more »
DAP MP: Yes to equal opportunities, but don’t mollycoddle Malays | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — Klang MP Charles Santiago urged the government today to create equal opportunities for all after Pakatan Harapan (PH) lost the Semenyih by-election. But the DAP lawmaker stressed that this should not be done at the expense of non-Malays. “If we care to be honest, we will...
Read more »
Analyst warns of ripple effect of MCA-MIC exit from BNPolitical scientist Andrew Aeria says any move by the two parties to leave BN will further alienate the Umno-led coalition from non-Malays and those in East Malaysia.
Read more »
BN and PAS have finally found solid similarities | Malay MailPETALING JAYA, March 3 — Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS’s success in the Semenyih by-election is a referendum that the Malays are not with the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) government as they feel it is DAP-dominated. The two Malay-based parties had made their battle line clear before the...
Read more »
Talks still ongoing over Singapore water issue, foreign minister says | Malay MailSEPANG, March 5 — Discussions between Malaysia and Singapore so far have been positive and have not reached the stage of taking the water supply agreement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. He said the closed-door discussions at...
Read more »
British envoy Treadell heads to Australia, leaves Malaysia with stronger bilateral ties | Malay MailKUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — After four and a half years serving as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ipoh-born Vicki Treadell is heading to Australia, leaving behind stronger relations between Malaysia and Britain. Treadell said during her tenure here, four areas constitute the backbone of...
Read more »