KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The government is reviewing all existing agreements related to the issue of raw water from Sungai Johor being sold to Singapore at a fixed price of three sen (SG$ 0.01) per 1,000 gallons since 1962, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister was responding to former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that over 61 years (from 1962 to 2023), the water deal translated to a significant sum foreseen as a subsidy to Singapore.
Fadillah said the issue has persisted for years, even during Dr Mahathir's administration.
“Whether Malaysia has been providing a subsidy (to Singapore) or not, we are reviewing all the existing agreements,” he said after opening the Water Malaysia Specialised Conference and Exhibition 2024 today.
In his statement on Friday (July 12), Dr Mahathir said Malaysia has been giving 'subsidies' to Singapore for the past 61 years by selling 250 million gallons of raw water per day at a rate of only 3 sen (SG$ 0.01) per 1,000 gallons since 1962.
The 1962 Johor-Singapore Water Agreement gives Singapore 250 million gallons of raw water per day at three sen per 1,000 gallons, and Malaysia is entitled to buy back the treated water at 50 sen per 1,000 gallons. The agreement will expire in 2061.
— Bernama
