No decision on restarting water talks with Singapore: KL

The Straits Times, March 27, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR - The Government has not decided when to resume negotiations with Singapore on the water issue, Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

He said the Government had taken action through negotiations to review the water pact with Singapore but the ongoing talks since 1990s had failed to show fruition.

The water agreements between Johor and Singapore, signed in 1961 and 1962, would lapse in 2011 and 2061, respectively.

'The Government is studying further steps to find a solution to the long-standing issue, whether to bring it to arbitration or to re-start the talks although Johor no longer depended on treated water from Singapore and the republic too has its own source of water - Newater,' said Mr Ahmad Shabery.

He was replying to Mr Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Ketereh) who wanted to know whether the Government proposed to re-visit the water pact with neighbouring Singapore. -- BERNAMA