KUALA LUMPUR: The Singapore government is prepared to cooperate with Malaysia when it comes to the latter's decision to review details of its sale of raw water to the republic.
Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sim Ann said the existing agreement between both countries is very solid.
"We always want to manage this issue responsibly. We are always ready to cooperate with our counterpart in Malaysia, " she said when quoted by Utusan Malaysia today.
She was speaking to Malaysian media representatives who took part in the 2024 Malaysian Media Visit Programme at the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry last week.
On July 16, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the government was reviewing the agreement related to the sale of raw water to Singapore.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister had said this in reaction to a previous statement by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
When asked about the level of achievement in negotiations between the two countries, Sim Ann said it was best for the related agencies to tackle this matter.
Dr Mahathir had previously described that the Malaysian government is 'subsidising' Singapore as it sells 250 million gallons (946 million litres) of raw water daily to the republic for 3 sen (S$0.01) per every 1,000 gallons (3,785 litres) .
Te rate of raw water being sold to Singapore went through several negotiations from 1998 until 2002 and 2018 although no solutions were reached.
The water agreement between Malaysian and Singapore was signed on Dec 5, 1927 but that agreement was later cancelled and is no longer applicable.
The Malaya Federation Government would later decide to sign another agreement called the Johor-Singapore Water Agreement on Sept 1, 1961 which gives the right to the republic to obtain 86 million gallons (325 million litres) of water per day until 2011, an agreement which was supposed to have ended.
However, the Johor River Agreement in 1962 has allowed Singapore to obtain 250 million gallons (946 million litres) of water from Johor until 2061 at 3 sen for every 1,000 gallons.
The agreement also allows Singapore resell treated water to Malaysia at 50sen for every 1,000 gallons.
Earlier, Sim Ann described Malaysia-Singapore ties as being something which is very important for both sides.
"We have always been told about this, not only among us in politics, but also since I began as a civil servant, that our bilateral ties are something which is very important,
"We may be involved in matters on various levels, but without any doubt, this relationship is very important," she said.