Smoother trips for people working on both sides of Causeway with Johor-Singapore special economic zone: PM Lee

OUTSTANDING BILATERAL ISSUES

This comes as Mr Lee said Malaysia and Singapore need to enhance cooperation at a time when the global landscape is becoming increasingly uncertain.

“In an increasingly uncertain post-pandemic world, we need to enhance our cooperation, in particular economic links and our people-to-people ties,” he said in opening remarks at the start of the press conference.

He also said that outstanding bilateral issues, including maritime delimitation, reclamation at Pedra Branca, water, and airspace, should not affect the overall relationship between the two countries.

“These are all important issues and we will consider them holistically and constructively within the broader context of our overall relationship,” he said.

“Importantly, they will not be allowed to colour and affect this overall relationship or detract from the many positive areas of cooperation between us”

Mr Lee said he is confident that the two countries can work out durable and mutually beneficial ways forward on such issues.

In his opening remarks, Mr Anwar expressed his gratitude to Mr Lee for the latter’s leadership in wanting to resolve the long-standing issues.

“Let me thank (Mr Lee) for the candor and assistance and the friendship shown … in that many of these issues can be resolved amicably or towards the end because of your kind interest and leadership and support to our endeavour.

“I must also thank Singapore for their support in terms of increasing investments and trade into Malaysia and we would certainly reciprocate in terms of the serious attempts at settling most of the outstanding issues (that are) sometimes deemed to be contentious by (certain) parties,” said Mr Anwar.

He said that the parameters on the issue of airspace management between both countries have been “quite agreed upon”.

“To me this is a remarkable feat in terms of bilateral relations. Issues that have been outstanding are seriously discussed … so I must thank (both) teams,” he added.

On the topic of water, which he said had been “long outstanding”, Mr Anwar affirmed his country’s commitment to supply water to Singapore.

“Our position is we have to honor the commitment of the water supply from Johor to Singapore and we will have to work jointly to ensure that Johor would be able to enhance the capacity to Johor river to supply both for Johor needs – which is also expanding – and Singapore,” said Mr Anwar.

“I think instead of focusing purely on price mechanism, we should also look at the possibility of Singapore participating in a joint effort, both in terms of study which can be conducted immediately, and also in terms of management of the Johor river, particularly with Johor state.”

During his first official visit to Singapore in January, Mr Anwar told Malaysian media that he had urged Singapore to examine its reclamation activities at Pedra Branca to ensure they did not affect the environment and Singapore’s borders with Malaysia.

“That must be finalised. I have Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s agreement to hear our arguments in the near future,” he said then.

Mr Anwar said on Monday that both countries have in the past year tried resolving the issue of delimiting maritime boundaries surrounding Pedra Branca.

“But our position is that both AGs (attorneys-general) in particular should then conduct the discussions immediately to try and resolve it,” he added.

“Because I think Malaysia and Singapore should showcase how two great friends can try and resolve in a win-win situation.”

This is Mr Anwar’s first retreat in his current capacity as prime minister, and his third official visit to Singapore. During his January visit, he and Mr Lee witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperation in the green and digital economy.

The annual retreat is an important platform for the leaders of both countries to discuss bilateral issues and explore new areas of cooperation, and has historically produced some significant agreements.

For instance at the 2018 retreat, the countries agreed to embark on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link project, aimed at easing congestion on the Causeway and is on track to be completed by the end of 2026.

Mr Lee said on Monday that he and Mr Anwar discussed efforts to alleviate congestion at the countries’ land checkpoints.

The Causeway is one of the busiest land checkpoints in the world, with about 270,000 travellers passing between Woodlands in Singapore and Johor in Malaysia daily.

Mr Lee cited various initiatives by Singapore to make cross-border travel smoother and more efficient, while maintaining border security.

These include redeveloping Woodlands Checkpoint to increase its capacity and meet the expected long-term growth in cross-border commuters.“I am glad that PM Anwar welcomes and supports Singapore’s efforts,” Mr Lee said.