S'pore dependence on Malaysia queried

S'pore dependence on Malaysia queried

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore members of parliament, leaping into a long-running row with Kuala Lumpur, urged the government yesterday to redouble efforts to reduce their country's heavy dependence on Malaysian water.

Several told parliament Singapore should not be held to ransom by Malaysian threats to turn off the tap on pipelines which carry water across the narrow stretch of sea separating the two countries.

"We want to let them know there is quiet anger in Singapore over this Singapore-bashing, and the perennial threat of cutting off the water supply," said Ong Chit Chung of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

"We should not be held ransom by such threats. I urge the government to redouble our efforts to secure alternative supplies of water from other countries and embark fully on conversion of sea water."

There have been several calls in Malaysia to review supplies of water to Singapore in the past few months since relations soured after former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was deemed to have insulted Malaysia.

Lee called Malaysia's southern state of Johore "notorious for shootings, muggings and car-jackings", sparking off a furious row that ended at government level after two apologies and a withdrawal of an affidavit in which he made the comment.

However, newspapers in the two countries have continued sniping at each other.

Singapore has two agreements with Johore for water supplies. One expires in 2011 and the other in 2060. Singapore can draw up to 250 million gallons per day -- just under its consumption of about 240 million gallons.

"Even with the water agreements signed and filed in the United Nations, we are constantly threatened for the cutting off of the water supply," said Low Seow Chay, also of the PAP.

The MPs said that, at best, Singapore's own water resources could supply only half the needs of its three million people.

Over the past few years the government has sought to diversify its water sources.

In 1991, Singapore and Jakarta signed an agreement for the joint development of water resources in Indonesia's Riau province as well as the supply of water to Singapore.

Last year, Singapore newspapers said the two countries were setting up a task force to resolve issues which had delayed the joint water development project in Bintan, an island in Riau province.