Water Conflicts Between Malaysia and Singapore

Water Conflicts Between Malaysia And Singapore

Singapore and Malaysia have a long standing conflict over water supplies.

The first water agreement was signed between His Highness the Sultan and Sovereign Ruler of the State and Territories of Johor and the Municipal Commissioners of the Town of Singapore on 5 December 1927. This agreement is no longer in force.

On 1 September 1961, the Federation of Malaya signed an agreement giving Singapore the right to draw up to 86 million imperial gallons (390,000 m3) of water per day collectively from the Tebrau River, the Scudai River, the Pontian Reservoir, and the Gunung Pulai Reservoir, with effect through 2011. On 29 September 1962, a further agreement was signed providing Singapore the right to draw up to 250 million imperial gallons (1,100,000 m3) per day from the Johore River, with effect through 2061. Both agreements stipulated the price of 3 Malaysian cents per 1,000 imperial gallons (4,500 L).

The Malaysian government has stated that the agreements were signed during a different time and that the price should increase. They cite the example of water sold by China to Hong Kong in the past, which was approximately US$5.8 per 1,000 imperial gallons (4,500 L). However, this price comparison is not directly applicable because while Hong Kong has borne the cost of constructing the infrastructure and China has borne the cost of maintaining to provide water to Hong Kong, Singapore paid for all the costs of the reservoirs in Johore, the dams, pipelines, plant, equipment, etc. and Singapore continues to pay all the costs of operating and maintaining this infrastructure.

Malaysia has always been a reliable provider of water to Singapore, but Malaysia has often used threats of cutting off the water supply to pressure Singapore politically. Seeking greater political independence and freedom from such pressures, Singapore has pursued a costly strategy of developing self-sufficiency of water sources.

As of 2003, about 40% of Singapore's water came from Malaysia. This proportion has been decreasing as Singapore has pursued its Four Tap Strategy of sourcing water from rainwater, recycling, desalination, and importation. As new desalination and recycling plants come online and new dams are built to create additional reservoirs, Singapore's dependence on imported water decreases. With decreasing dependence, the potential for water conflicts is reduced.

By 2010, Singapore had constructed five Newater plants, a desalination plant and a new water barrage to increase rainwater supply. The Newater/Desalination plants have the capability to supply 40% of Singapore's water needs as at 2010. Due to the limit of rainwater catchment, new investment is being planned with a tender for a second and larger desalination plant to be constructed by 2013.

Singapore's water needs are anticipated to double in the next 50 years. Planned Newater output will triple to meet 50% of needs by year 2060 whilst desalination investment will raise output to meet 30% of needs. By the expiry of the 1962 water agreement in 2061, the necessity for Malaysia water import should be eliminated.

On 31 August 2011, the 1961 water agreement expired and the waterworks and facilities were handed over to the Johor state government. The handover included the Skudai and Gunung Pulai water treatment plants, which were built and managed by PUB for 50 years, as well as two pump houses in Pontian and Tebrau.