Conflicts between Singapore and Malaysia

1
Conflicts between Singapore and Malaysia
2
Basis of conflicts

• Singapores land reclamation in Tebrau Straits
• Water Supply between Malaysia and Singapore
• Proposed bridge linking Singapore and Malaysia
• Use of Malaysian Airspace by Singaporean Aircraft

3
Land Reclamation Background Information

• In 1990, the total land area of Singapore was 633
  square km.
• Increase of 51.5 square km(8.9 of total present
  land area) from original land area.
• With continuing land reclamation, land area in
  Singapore will increase by about another 100
  square km by the year 2030.

4
Land Reclamation Background Information

• Initiated by Singapore to expand land mass
• Good ties between Singapore and Malaysia
  previously
• Case handled out of UN court
• Handled via diplomacy

5
Land Reclamation Singapores Stand

• Land Reclamation being done within territorial
  waters, within rights
• Increasing demand for land with rising
  population-housing, infrastructure, industries,
  commercial usage, etc
• Increases the small size of the country

6
Land Reclamation Malaysias Stand

• Fears that the reclamation is being done too
  close to its border
• Possibility of obstructing ships headed for ports
  in Southern State of Johor, which are being
  promoted to compete against Singapores ports
• Restricts the flow of water through the Straits

7
Land Reclamation Malaysias Stand

• Environmental Impact
• Documented evidence that the project is causing
  environmental damage, especially along the coast
  of Johor
• Affects livelihood of Malaysian fishermen
• Effect on maritime border

8
Land Reclamation End of dispute

• "Malaysia referred the matter to the
  International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea,
  which asked both sides to have independent
  experts study the impact of the reclamation."
• In January 2005, both countries announced that
  they had reached agreement on a fair and balanced
  deal.

9
Land Reclamation End of dispute

• Ended on April 26, 2005
• Under the agreement, both governments would carry
  out various mitigating measures
• Under the recommendations of a group of
  independent experts (GOE) appointed by both
  governments to study the impact of Singapore's
  reclamation works

10
Land Reclamation Results of study by experts

• Out of 57 identified impacts on the marine
  environment, 40 were detectable only in computer
  models and not in the field
• Remaining impacts classified as minor to moderate
• RM 374,000 paid to about 60 fishermen affected by
  works
• 300,000 paid by Singapore for added protection
  works at Tanjung Belungkor jetty

11
Consequences of conflict

• George Yeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs
  (Singapore) The civil and civilised manner in
  which we have been able to settle this dispute
  gives us confidence that our other bilateral
  disputes can be settled in the same way.

12
Consequences of conflict

• Syed Hamid, Minister of Foreign Affairs
  (Malaysia) I consider this a milestone in
  Singapore-Malaysia relations

13
Water Supply History

• Two water agreements(Tebrau and Scudai, Johor
  River) were signed in 1961 and 1962 respectively
  between Singapore and Malaysia.
• The first one permits Singapore to draw 86
  million gallons of water a day from the Pontian
  and Gunung Pulai Reservoirs., as well as the
  Tebrau and Skudai Rivers.
• Expires in 2011

14
Water Supply History

• The 1962 agreement allows 250 million gallons of
  water per day to be drawn from the Johor River by
  Singapore.
• Expires in 2061
• However, Singapore can only draw a total maximum
  of 250.4 million gallons per day.

15
Water Supply History

• Singapore pays 3 sen per 1000 gallons of water
  from Malaysia's rivers
• Malaysia pays 50 sen per 1000 gallons of treated
  water from Singapore
• Both agreements allow for price revision every 25
  years and arbitration in case of disagreement
• Malaysia did not revise prices in 1986-1987 as
  raising raw water price would mean treated water
  price would also rise.

16
Water Supply Disagreements

• Price of water
• Right to alter price of water

17
Water Supply Malaysias Stand

• A fair price, a fair deal 3 sen/1000 gallons is
  ridiculous
• Malaysia agreed to 3 sen/1000 gallons to aid the
  PAP in selling the merger proposal to Singaporean
  voters at 1961
• Revise price of water upwards, eventually
  reaching 6.8 8 RM (Price that HK pays
  Guangdong), with inflation

18
Water Supply Malaysias Stand

• Willing to supply Singapore the water it needs,
  but uncomfortable with the supposed fact that
  Singapore is profiteering from resale of water
• Singapore enjoys one of the highest standard of
  livings in Asia
• Singapore can pay as much as 6.25RM/1000 gallons
  without charging users, and still make a profit

19
Water Supply Singapores Stand

• Malaysias fault that they agreed to 3 sen/1000
  gallons in 1961, when the pact was drawn
• Peg price of water to cost of producing NEWater
• Singapore is not self-sufficient in terms of
  water-Singapore needs large amounts of water to
  feed large population

20
Water Supply Singapores Stand

• Water is critical for survival of Singapore as a
  nation
• Malaysia intends to portray Singapore as selfish
  and unreasonable
• An increase from 3 sen to 45 sen per 1000 gallons
  would be insignificant profit/loss to Singapore
  or Malaysia.

21
Water Supply Singapores Stand

• The significance of the water price, to both
  countries, is Singapore's existence as a
  sovereign nation separate from Malaysia, and the
  sanctity of the most solemn agreements which
  Singapore and Malaysia have entered into." -Prof.
  S.Jayakumar

22
Water Supply Consequences

• Risk of damaging relationship with Malaysia
• NEWater developed by Singapore
• Desalination plant developed by Singapore

23
Bibliography

• http//www.ecologyasia.com/news-archives/2003/jun-
  03/straitstimes_030630_1.htm
• http//www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020311af.htm
• http//www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020317ns.htm
• http//au.news.yahoo.com/050426/3/p/u49q.html
• http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3177532.st
  m
• http//library.thinkquest.org/C006891/reclamation.
  html
• http//www.kln.gov.my/water.htm
• http//www.eldis.org/static/DOC14581.htm
• www.getforme.com/singaporemalaysiaupdates.htm
• www.mggpillai.com/article.php3?sid2218
• www.wsws.org/news/1998/aug1998/mal-a19.shtml
• www.singapore-window.org/sw99/90608afp.htm