Unfortunately, the Chapters continues - as taken from
http://www.asiaone.com
History of water - according to
Utusan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia ran a series of articles recently on the water
agreements between Singapore and Malaysia. They provide an insight
into Malaysian thinking on the agreements, their view of history,
and their perceptions of the reasons for the current impasse in the
water talks. We publish below translated excerpts from these
articles - 'Free Water for Singapore' (Jan 6); 'Serve the notice so
as to take over water plants' (Jan 7); and 'The fact is that it
should be after 25 years' (Jan 
.
HISTORY
ORIGINALLY, Singapore was part of the sovereign territory of the
Johor-Riau-Lingga Malay sultanate. However, on Aug 2, 1824,
Singapore became a British colony when Sultan Hussein and
Temenggong Abdul Rahman agreed to cede the island to the British
'in perpetuity'.
-- MIEL
Singapore changed from a Malay fishing village into the leading
Chinese city in the region.
However, Singapore faced two big problems. First, it does not have
sufficient water supply. Second, it is small.
To overcome the water problem, Singapore signed three agreements
with Johor, in 1927, 1961 and 1962.
As a neighbour who cares for the needs of its 'relatives' in
Singapore, Johor agreed to supply water to the Republic.
THE 1927 AGREEMENT
THE Johor state government provided 2,100 acres of land at Gunung
Pulai as a water catchment area for Singapore.
Singapore had rights over the area for 21 years and was required to
pay only 30 sen per acre annually, said Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia's Historical, Political and Strategic Studies Centre
chairman, Professor Nik Anuar Nik Mahmud.
However, he said, the 1927 Agreement made no mention of how much
Singapore must pay for the water.
"What is clearly stated is only the rent for the land; and this
gives rise to the question of whether Singapore received its water
supply for free," he said.
On the other hand, if Johor wanted to receive water treated by the
Singapore Municipal Council, it had to pay 25 sen per 1,000 gallons
and the amount could not exceed 1,200 gallons daily.
THE 1961 AND 1962 AGREEMENTS
THE water price was fixed only when Singapore was given the right
in 1961 to draw 86 million gallons daily from Skudai and Tebrau
rivers for a price of three sen per 1,000 gallons until 2011.
The 1962 Agreement stipulated that Singapore could pump up to 250
million gallons of water daily from Johor River at the same
price.
The Johor government agreed in 1961 to allow Singapore to use 120
acres of its land for 99 years, and in 1962, a further 341 acres
for 99 years, for a payment of RM5 per acre.
Prof Nik Anuar said that unlike the water price that could be
reviewed after 25 years, there was no clause stating that the
payment for the use of the land could be reviewed.
But the agreements have clauses stating that in the event of a
dispute over water issues, both sides must refer the case to an
arbitrator.
WATER AND SEPARATION
PROF Nik Anuar said that the separation of Singapore from Malaysia
did not affect the latter's commitment to supply water to the
Republic.
The Malaysian government agreed to include Article 14 in Annex B of
the Agreement on Separation, providing assurances that the Johor
government would respect all conditions and responsibilities agreed
to in the 1961 and 1962 Agreements.
Singapore, ever suspicious and cautious, registered the agreement
with the United Nations Charter Secretariat Office on June 1,
1966.
"In the minds of the Singapore leaders, their country is constantly
under threat and that is why they decided to register the
agreement; but after having done that, they still do not feel
safe," said Prof Nik Anuar.
Singapore thinks that Malaysia will violate the agreements and cut
off water supply, on the basis of a statement that Tunku Abdul
Rahman made to Lord Head, the British High Commissioner to Kuala
Lumpur, on Aug 9, 1965.
"If Singapore's foreign policy is prejudicial towards the interests
of Malaysia, we can apply pressure on the country by threatening to
shut off the water."
Prof Nik Anuar said the first Malaysian Prime Minister's statement
should be viewed in the context it was made
that is, if Singapore
established ties with Indonesia while Malaysia and Indonesia were
engaged in the Confrontation.
Thus, this "aimless" concern of Singapore is totally
baseless.
JOHOR SHOULD TAKE BACK WATER WORKS
SINGAPORE was given the right to manage the water catchment area in
Gunung Pulai for 21 years by the 1927 Agreement.
Though the 21 years has lapsed, Singapore regained its rights to
the area in the 1961 and 1962 Agreements.
Prof Nik Anuar said that the Johor government had the right to take
over the water works in the Gunung Pulai catchment area by giving
four years' notice to the Singapore Government. He said: 'The Johor
government need only pay service charges agreed by the two sides if
it wants to take over the works.'
Prof Nik Anuar regards administrative jurisdiction over the area as
enabling the Johor government to use its discretion to fix a new
price for water that the Republic must agree to, whether it likes
it or not.
