No confirmation from Malaysia on land reclamation: Grace Fu

Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 19 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE: The Republic has yet to receive official confirmation from Malaysia on two land reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, said Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu in Parliament on Monday (Jan 19).

A finalised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has also not been received.

Ms Fu's response comes after media reports on both sides of the Causeway said that Malaysia had given developers of the two projects approval to restart work.

Reports said the Forest City Project had been given the green light to restart work, although the project's total size would be reduced. Another project called the Princess Cove near the Causeway has also reportedly received the nod to restart work. Both projects were suspended last year, after Singapore voiced concerns on the potential transboundary impact.

Ms Fu said both countries are obliged under international law to share EIA reports on all works prior to their commencement. "We have not received the report and we are working with our Malaysian counterparts to obtain the report as soon as we can and we will study the report seriously," she added.

When MP for Nee Soon GRC Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked if Singapore would be able to do its own independent environmental impact study, Ms Fu said that the government will need to work with Malaysia to "get the necessary information" before a thorough study can be done.

- CNA/ac

Parliament: Singapore has not received Malaysia's official reply on reclamation, says Grace Fu
CHARISSA YONG Straits Times 19 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE - Singapore has not yet received Malaysia's official response and environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports on the two land reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, said Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu on Monday.

"Singapore has yet to receive the Malaysian government's official response on this issue, including the finalised EIA reports. We are seeking clarifications from Malaysia and have reiterated our request for Malaysia to provide the finalised EIA reports, and all relevant information, expeditiously, prior to the commencement of such works," she said in Parliament.

This, despite media reports last week from both sides of the Causeway - which Ms Fu acknowledged - that Malaysia had recently given the two projects the green light to restart work.

Work on the two projects - Forest City near Tuas and Princess Cove near the Causeway - had been suspended in 2014 following Singaporean concerns.

Singapore had requested that the works be suspended until it received and studied all the relevant information from Malaysia, including Environmental Impact Assessments to assess if there would be any transboundary impact.

Said Ms Fu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office: "We have not received the report, and we are working with our Malaysian counterparts to obtain the report as soon as we can, and we will study the report seriously."

She was responding to Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC), who had asked for an update on the results of the EIA carried out by Malaysia.

Singapore waiting for Malaysia’s response on reclaimed land
BEN TAN New Straits Times 19 Jan 15;

JOHOR BARU: The Singapore government has responded in the republic's parliament today that it has not officially received any report and also Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from Malaysia concerning two land reclamation projects in the Johor Straits here.

Singapore Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu confirmed that Singapore has not received an official response and EIA reports from Malaysia.

This response follows last week's approval for the RM600 billion mixed-development Johor Forest City project to go ahead by the Department of Environment (DOE) to the developer after close to six months.

However, the suspended project, which is located close to the Second Link, will be scaled down to about 30 per cent from 1,978 ha to 1,368 ha based on recommendations made by the DOE.

Another reclaimed land project that the Singapore authorities are concerned about is the Tanjung Puteri or Princess Cove development which is located near the Sultan Iskandar Building's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and Causeway.

Last year, it was reported that Singapore had protested on Johor's reclaimed land projects, citing that it is near the border and may have an effect on the environment.

Singapore says no official word on Forest City project in Johor
The Star 19 Jan 15;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has yet to receive official confirmation from Malaysia on two land reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor.

Local television Channel News Asia (CNA) reported Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu as saying in Parliament on Monday that a finalised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report had also not been received.

Fu's response comes after media reports on both sides of the Causeway said Malaysia had given approval to developers of the two projects to re-start work.

Reports said the Forest City Project had been given the green light to re-start work, although the project's total size would be reduced.

Another project, called the Princess Cove near the Causeway has also reportedly received the nod to re-start work.

Both projects were suspended last year, after Singapore voiced concerns on the potential transboundary impact.

Fu said both countries were obliged under international law to share EIA reports on all works prior to their commencement.

"We have not received the report and we are working with our Malaysian counterparts to obtain the report as soon as we can and will study the report seriously," CNA quoted her as saying. - Bernama