S'pore says not to blame for floods

SINGAPORE: Singapore has denied claims its land reclamation at Pulau Tekong contributed to the recent massive floods in Johor.The Ministry of National Development said there was no scientific basis to allege so. "The comments are unfounded," it said.

It said: "This is confirmed by results from technical studies commissioned separately by both the Malaysian Government and the Singapore Government as part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea dispute settlement proceedings on Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong and Tuas View Extension."

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said on Tuesday land reclamation by Singapore at Pulau Tekong contributed to the massive flooding in Johor.

He said the reclamation had caused narrowing of the Johor River mouth and slowed discharge of excess rain water into the Johor Straits.

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The ministry said a coastal hydraulic study undertaken by Malaysia's Drainage and Irrigation Department in September 2002 on the impact of Singapore's reclamation works concluded that there were no appreciable changes to the water levels within the Straits of Johor.

"As such, the study concluded that there is no increased flooding due to Singapore's reclamation works," it said in a statement.

It also cited a separate environmental impact assessment report prepared by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia commissioned by the Malaysian Government which reported similar findings.

"Technical studies commissioned separately by the Singapore Government in 2003 also reached the same conclusions.

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"In fact, based on the results of these studies, the Group of Experts which both governments appointed to study the impact of the reclamation works had recommended that it would not be necessary for the flood impact to be further assessed by the technical consultant appointed for the Joint Study.

This was accepted by both governments," it added. - Bernama

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