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.