The Star 22 May 16;
KOTA TINGGI: Johor has assured Singapore that it will continue to supply water to the republic despite the state facing a water shortage.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said Johor would respect the agreement signed between Malaysia and the island republic in 1962.
"Under the agreement, we have to supply 250 million gallons of water at three cents per litre to Singapore daily.
"Even though the selling price does not make sense given the current environment, it is stipulated under the agreement," he said at Kejora's entrepreneurship carnival and human capita expo at Bandar Penawar here yesterday.
He said the agreement would last 100 years until 2061.
Hasni said several quarters had urged the state government to stop supplying water to Singapore due to the current water shortage.
"The first 50 years of the agreement had already ended with Singapore handing over the Pontian and Gunung Pulai reservoirs back to us in 2011," he said.
He said Johor would need help from the Federal Government in ensuring the state had enough water beyond 2018.
"We must meet the demand for water for development and the investment being poured into the area, especially for Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang.
"We have asked for an allocation of RM660mil under the 11th Malaysia Plan to build a new dam at Sungai Ulu Sedili," he said.
Johor to continue supplying water to Singapore despite shortage: Report
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Hasni Mohammad said that Johor will respect a 1962 agreement for the state to supply water to Singapore, The Star reported.
Channel NewsAsia 22 May 16;
SINGAPORE: Despite a shortage, Johor will honour a 1962 agreement signed between Singapore and Malaysia to supply water to Singapore, The Star reported on Sunday (May 22) citing State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Hasni Mohammad.
Under the 99-year agreement which lasts until 2061, Singapore has full and exclusive right to draw up to 250 million gallons of water daily from the Johor River at the price of 3 sen per 1,000 gallons. The river supplies about half of Singapore's water needs.
Mr Hasni was quoted by The Star as saying that “even though the selling price does not make sense given the current environment, it is stipulated under the agreement". The official’s comments came after “several quarters” urged the state government to stop supplying water to Singapore due to the current water shortage, reported The Star.
Water levels in Johor's Linggiu Reservoir fell to a historic low of 35 per cent last month. Mr Hasni also reportedly said that Johor would need help from Kuala Lumpur to ensure the state “had enough water beyond 2018”.
"We must meet the demand for water for development and the investment being poured into the area, especially for Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang,” he said, according to The Star.
As part of the 1962 Water Agreement, Johor buys treated water back from Singapore at 50 sen per 1,000 gallons, a fraction of the cost to Singapore of treating the water, which includes building and maintaining the water purification plants.
Last August, Singapore temporarily raised the amount of potable water supplied to Johor from the usual 16 million gallons to 22 million, as the Malaysian state grappled with a dry spell.
- CNA/rw
