Malaysia's Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that land reclamation projects had not affected Singapore so far.
Chong Zi Liang Straits Times 17 Feb 16;
SINGAPORE - Singapore is concerned that reclamation work for some Malaysian projects in the Johor Strait have begun without the needed studies on the potential environmental impact, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said on Wednesday.
In cases where Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been done, not all the reports have been shared with Singapore, the ministry added in reply to media queries.
Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said on Feb 4 that Johor development projects involving land reclamation had so far not affected Singapore, and would not bring negative impact to Singapore.
MEWR said Singapore has in fact raised its concerns on many occasions.
"Singapore has highlighted to Malaysia that an EIA needs to be conducted before any reclamation is carried out to confirm that the works will not have any adverse transboundary impact," it added.
For projects where EIA reports have been shared, Singapore analyses the findings and seeks clarification from Malaysia where necessary, the ministry said.
Singapore is presently in the midst of such analysis for Johor's Forest City project, it added. Work at the development near Tuas as well as for Princess Cove near the Causeway was suspended in June 2014. But Malaysia gave the green light last January for work on Forest City to restart.
MEWR said Singapore continues to monitor these projects for potential environmental impact.
Singapore has also been in close contact with Malaysia to anticipate, discuss and mitigate any negative transboundary environmental impact. Such exchanges are facilitated under the ambit of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment network, it added.
"Singapore remains committed to working together with Malaysia to address our concerns over the potential transboundary environmental impact of Malaysia's reclamation projects," the ministry said.
Singapore concerned over land reclamation in Johor Strait projects
Chong Zi Liang AsiaOne 18 Feb 16;
Singapore is concerned that reclamation work for some Malaysian projects in the Johor Strait have begun without the needed studies on the potential environmental impact, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said yesterday.
In cases where environmental impact assessments (EIAs) have been done, not all the reports have been shared with Singapore, the ministry added, in reply to media queries.
Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said on Feb 4 that Johor development projects involving land reclamation had so far not affected Singapore, and would not have a negative impact on Singapore.
MEWR said Singapore has in fact raised its concerns on many occasions. "Singapore has highlighted to Malaysia that an EIA needs to be conducted before any reclamation is carried out to confirm that the works will not have any adverse transboundary impact."
For projects where EIA reports have been shared, Singapore analyses the findings and seeks clarification from Malaysia where necessary, the ministry said.
Singapore is presently in the midst of such analysis for Johor's Forest City project, it added.
Work at the development near Tuas, as well as for Princess Cove near the Causeway, was suspended in June 2014. But Malaysia gave the green light last January for work on Forest City to restart.
MEWR said Singapore continues to monitor these projects for potential environmental impact.
Singapore has also been in close contact with Malaysia to anticipate, discuss and mitigate any negative transboundary environmental impact. Such exchanges are facilitated under the ambit of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment network, it added.
"Singapore remains committed to working together with Malaysia to address our concerns over the potential transboundary environmental impact of Malaysia's reclamation projects," the ministry said.
Singapore-Malaysia In Close Contact On Impact From Reclamation Projects
Massita Ahmad Bernama 17 Feb 16;
SINGAPORE, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Singapore has been in close contact with Malaysia to anticipate, discuss and mitigate any negative transboundary environmental impact arising from reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, according to the Environment and Water Resources Ministry.
"Such exchanges of information and solutions are facilitated under the ambit of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment network," it said in a statement Wednesday.
The statement was issued in reply to media queries on Singapore's approach towards potential environmental impact of projects involving land reclamation in the Straits of Johor.
"Singapore remains committed to working together with Malaysia to address our concerns over the potential transboundary environmental impact of Malaysia's reclamation projects," it said.
-- BERNAMA
REPLY BY MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES TO MEDIA QUERIES ON SINGAPORE’S APPROACH TOWARDS POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PROJECTS INVOLVING LAND RECLAMATION IN THE STRAITS OF JOHOR
MEWR 17 Feb 16;
Responding to media queries, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources said that Singapore has been in close contact with Malaysia to anticipate, discuss and mitigate any negative transboundary environmental impact arising from reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor. Such exchanges of information and solutions are facilitated under the ambit of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment network.
Regarding the reported comments by Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on 4 February 2016 that the Johor development project involving sea reclamation had so far not affected Singapore, and would not bring negative impact to Singapore, Singapore has in fact raised our concerns on many occasions. Singapore is concerned that reclamation work on some of the Malaysian projects in the Straits of Johor may have commenced without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and that, in cases where Malaysia informed Singapore that EIAs have been conducted, not all the EIA reports have been shared with Singapore. In this regard, Singapore has highlighted to Malaysia that an EIA needs to be conducted before any reclamation is carried out to confirm that the works will not have any adverse transboundary impact. For projects where the EIA reports have been shared with Singapore, Singapore analyses the EIA report’s findings and seeks clarification from Malaysia where necessary. For Johor’s Forest City project, Singapore is presently in the midst of such analysis. In addition, Singapore also continues to monitor the progress of these projects for potential environmental impact.
Singapore remains committed to working together with Malaysia to address our concerns over the potential transboundary environmental impact of Malaysia’s reclamation projects.
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES
17 February 2016
