KL-S'pore row over land reclamation work heats up

KL-S'pore row over land reclamation work heats up

Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur

A row over Singapore's land reclamation project heated up over
the weekend, with senior Malaysian leaders and dailies accusing
the republic of being selfish.

Abdul Ghani Othman, chief minister of southern Johor state
bordering Singapore, told Sunday's Mingguan Malaysia that
Singapore should have first considered the ecological impact of
its project on Malaysia.

He said Johor fishermen had complained of a sharp drop in
their catch since the project began three weeks ago at the narrow
Tebrau Straits separating the two countries.

He also expressed concern that the 25-year-old Pasir Gudang
port would lose its competitiveness if larger vessels had to pay
additional costs for pilot services to sail through narrower
straits.

Abdul Ghani said the project reflected Singapore's "kiasu" --
which means "afraid to lose" in the Hokkien dialect -- attitude.

"My personal view is that they realise the implication of the
land reclamation on Malaysia but maybe they only put Singapore's
interest first," he told the Malay-language newspaper.

"It reflected Singapore's attitude and approach towards its
neighboring countries. They often think they have the right to do
what they want as long as it fulfills their interest."

Asked if the move was to sabotage Johor's ports, he said: "I
think it is more towards their kiasu mentality and don't-care
attitude about the implications of their actions on other
people."

Since Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian Federation in
1965, the two have become economic rivals with fast-
industrializing Malaysia steadily closing the wealth gap with the
island.

Malaysia fears reclamation work at certain stretches along the
straits is too close to its border and could obstruct ships
headed for ports in Johor which are being promoted to rival
Singapore's port.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday that Malaysia
would seek a guarantee from Singapore that the project would not
unsettle the sea bed and affect passage for boats through its
waters.

But Singapore's foreign ministry retorted Saturday that there
was no legal basis to Malaysia's concerns.

"The reclamation is carried out entirely within Singapore's
territory and all reclamation works are done within our rights
and in keeping with international law," it said.

The New Straits Times, in a Saturday editorial, said many
Malaysians viewed Singapore as an "irritating pimple which
refuses to burst."

In its Sunday editorial, the newspaper said it was incumbent
upon Singapore to ensure the project had no consequence on its
neighbor, failing which Malaysia has a case under international
law.

The issue was expected to be discussed during Singapore Deputy
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Malaysia from March 11
to 14, officials said.

The row has put a fresh strain on often prickly relations
between Malaysia and its tiny but prosperous neighbor.

Apart from the land reclamation project, largely Muslim
Malaysia has also criticized Singapore's ban on Islamic
headscarves in schools and its recent suspension of three girls
who flouted the ban.

Other issues that have strained ties include water supplies, a
proposed bridge linking the countries and the use of Malaysian
airspace by Singaporean aircraft.