Singapore to independently assess impact of Johor reclamation projects

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 9 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has provided Singapore with some general information on the two reclamation projects along the Straits of Johor, said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli in Parliament on Wednesday (July 9), and the Government will assess the information and conduct its own studies to see how the projects will impact Singapore.

Singapore had raised concerns on the potential transboundary impact, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan highlighting the issue with their Malaysian counterparts.

The concerns come amidst reports that no environmental impact assessments were conducted. Mr Masagos said Singapore was not given prior information on these reclamation projects, and he highlighted some concerns.

The projects could increase the strength of the currents in the Straits of Johor, potentially affecting navigation safety. It could also result in the erosion of the seabed and foreshore defences that support the infrastructure of the Second Link between Singapore and Malaysia. It may also affect the water quality along the Straits, impacting the coastal and marine environment as well as the fish farms in the area.

Mr Masagos said Malaysia provided some preliminary information on the two projects on June 30. It also promised to share all other information, including environmental impact assessments, once internal processes are completed.

"Malaysia has stated that no reclamation works are currently being undertaken on these projects and that it remains committed at fulfilling its obligations under international law and will take all necessary matters to avoid any adverse transboundary impact," he said, adding that Singapore is seeking clarification on some of the information provided and waiting for more to come through.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, MP for Nee Soon GRC, asked if there would be changes in the boundary lines of the two countries after reclamation is completed, and what the course of action would be if Malaysia decided to go ahead with the projects even if they had a potential environmental impact.

Mr Masagos said it was premature to talk about any development at this stage. He said consultation and information exchange must be allowed to go forward before hypothesising, and that the boundary lines between the two countries do not change with any reclamation by either of the countries.

- CNA/xy

KL provides data on Johor Straits reclamation projects
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 10 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE — Malaysia has provided Singapore with some preliminary general information on the two reclamation projects along the Strait of Johor, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs) Masagos Zulkifli said yesterday.

He told Parliament that Singapore was not given prior information on the projects and noted that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and general international law, Malaysia’s obligations include not permitting “reclamation activities of this scale and nature ... so close to the international boundary with Singapore without first conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)”.

In their communications with Malaysia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had requested relevant information on all reclamation and construction work, including the EIA reports and projected timelines for their completion.

Singapore also raised concerns over the projects’ possible adverse environmental impacts, such as the increase in current velocity in the Strait of Johor, which could affect the safety of navigation in the area.

The projects could also result in changes in the morphology and water quality, affecting Singapore’s coastal and marine environment, as well as fish farms in the area.

Malaysia, which is committed to its obligations under international law, has promised to share all other information and suspended all reclamation work on the projects until Singapore has received and studied all the relevant information.

“In the meantime, we will study the information provided and conduct the necessary studies to ascertain how this project will impact Singapore,” Mr Masagos added.

Welcoming Malaysia’s cooperation on the matter, he said: “We have proposed to hold consultations with Malaysia so that both sides can further discuss and exchange information on these projects.”

Singapore gets assurance on reclamation
The Star 11 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has assured Singapore that no reclamation is currently taking place for two controversial projects near the Johor Strait, according to Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.

“Singapore is very concerned about the potential transboundary impact on Singapore from reclamation projects in Malaysia that are in close proximity to Singapore,” he said in response to questions from Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) and Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC).

The republic conveyed its concerns on a number of occasions to Malaysia, asking for more information on the reclamation and construction works, he added.

Malaysia responded on June 30 to Singapore’s request for the projects to be temporarily suspended until the republic received and studied information on them.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry then sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 1.

Malaysia had also given Singapore preliminary general information on the projects and promised to share all other information once ready, Masagos said.

The major reclamation works first attracted controversy last month, with concerns over their possible impact on Singapore and the environment. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

KL has reassured Singapore over reclamation concerns: MFA
Charissa Yong The Straits Times AsiaOne 12 Jul 14;

SINGPOARE - Malaysia has assured Singapore that no reclamation is taking place for its two controversial projects near the Johor Strait, said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli yesterday.

It remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under international law and will take all necessary measures to avoid any adverse transboundary impact, he said in Parliament.

"Singapore is very concerned about the potential transboundary impact on Singapore from reclamation projects in Malaysia that are in close proximity to Singapore," he said in response to questions from Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Nee Soon GRC) and Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC).

The Republic has conveyed its concern on a number of occasions to Malaysia, asking for more information on these reclamation and construction works, he added.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke and wrote to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on the matter in May.
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who co- chairs the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia, also wrote to his Malaysian counterpart the same month.

The issue was also discussed in May at a meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment in Malaysia.

Malaysia had responded on June 30 to Singapore's request for the projects to be temporarily suspended until the Republic receives and studies information on them. The Straits Times understands that Malaysia's Department of Environment was responding to a letter sent by the National Environment Agency.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry then sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on July 1.

Malaysia has also given Singapore preliminary general information on the projects and promised to share all other information once ready, Mr Masagos said.

Singapore is seeking further clarifications on some of the information provided, and will study the projects' impact.
"We have proposed to hold consultations with Malaysia so that both sides can further discuss and exchange information on these projects," he added.

The major reclamation works first attracted controversy last month, with concerns over their possible impact on Singapore and the environment.

The first project, a luxury home complex on a man-made island three times the size of Ang Mo Kio, is located near the Second Link. Dubbed Forest City, it is developed by China's Country Garden Holdings and a Johor state company.
The second is a residential project by China developer Guangzhou R&F Properties named Princess Cove.

Singapore was not given prior information on either project, and it is concerned about the effect on the coastal environment and infrastructure, among other problems, said Mr Masagos.

Under international law, Malaysia is obligated to "not permit reclamation activities of this scale and nature to take place so close to Singapore without first conducting an environmental impact assessment", he said.

If damage to the environment has been caused or is imminent, Malaysia has a duty to immediately notify Singapore, he added.

Under a 2005 settlement agreement following a reclamation case, both countries must monitor their environments in the Johor Strait, share information and address any adverse impacts.

According to a Johor official, Forest City developers had voluntarily stopped work for about a week while awaiting approval from the Department of Environment. But a Straits Times check on June 25 found that work on a sandbank was still ongoing, as the developers had asked for more time to wind down operations.