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  New Straits Times 2 Feb 07
Syed Hamid: Technical study will shed light on floods

Bernama 1 Feb 07
No Scientific Basis To Say Reclamation Caused Johor Floods - Singapore
By Jackson Sawatan

Channel NewsAsia 1 Feb 07
Malaysia downplays claims floods caused by Singapore

Today Online 1 Feb 07
S'pore rebuts Johor CM's flood claim
MND cites studies to counter his allegation

Straits Times 1 Feb 07
'Study causes of floods before blaming S'pore'
Najib's remarks come as S'pore says reclamation work not to blame

New Straits Times 31 Jan 07
Floods round-up: Reclamation work may be a cause

Channel NewsAsia 31 Jan 07
Johor minister says Singapore land reclamation cause of recent floods

The China Post 31 Jan 07
Singapore land reclamation caused recent floods in Malaysia, official says

Bernama 25 Jan 07
Flood Mitigation Should Consider S'pore Reclamation Project
By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa

JOHOR BAHARU, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Flood mitigation plans for Johor should consider various aspects including the Singapore land reclamation project on two islands near the Johor river estuary.

Director of the Coastal and Offshore Engineering Institute of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Khairi Abdul Wahab said, scientific studies on the flood especially in Kota Tinggi and the Johor river should consider the effects of the land reclamation on Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong Besar. Other factors such as high tides and rainfall should also be considered, he added.

The reclamation on both islands might have prevented water from running smoothly to sea in case of heavy rain in the interior, he said to Bernama Thursday.

Ahmad Khairi however said, the reclamation project on the two islands was not the main cause of the serious flood in Johor. He however said, any reclamation project at river estuaries would definitely have an effect until the upstream part of the rivers.

The rise in water level in the estuary when the water flow was hindered coupled with high tide at sea could cause the river water to overflow, he said.

He also said, there was high tide at sea when flood occurred on Dec 19, last year in Johor. The sea water flowed into the rivers where it met the rain water running down towards the sea along the rivers, causing the water in the rivers to rise and swept inland.

He also asked that development projects along mangrove swamps be controlled because the mangroves can absorb rainfall. -- BERNAMA

The China Post 31 Jan 07
Singapore land reclamation caused recent floods in Malaysia, official says

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) A Malaysian official has blamed massive land reclamation by Singapore near the Malaysian mainland for the recent flooding in southern Johor state that left 17 people dead, a news report said Wednesday.

The reclamation on Tekong island, east of mainland Singapore and opposite the mouth of Malaysia's Johor river, caused the flooding in December and January that also forced about 100,000 people to be evacuated, the New Straits Times reported, quoting Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman

The reclamation led to the narrowing of the mouth of the Johor river, slowing the discharge of excess rain water into the Johor Straits, Othman said. This led to the river bursting its banks in Kota Tinggi, the worst affected town where streets and many homes were submerged.

Singapore and Malaysia have for decades shared uneasy relations over a host of irritants, and the fresh and unexpected charge is likely to fuel tensions.

Abdul Ghani's spokespeople could not be immediately reached to confirm the report. There was no immediate reaction from Singapore either.

Land-scarce Singapore, a city-state of 4 million people, started reclaiming land in 2002 along the eastern and western parts of the Johor Straits near the Malaysian mainland.

The Times said Malaysia launched international arbitration proceedings against Singapore in October 2003, and sought a stoppage of land reclamation work, saying it had narrowed the shipping lanes around the Johor Straits.

The Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, however, ruled that the reclamation work can continue but ordered both sides to set up an independent group of experts to study the impact, the Times said.

Malaysia's government is facing a 1.5 billion ringgit (US$430 million; ?330 million) bill for helping the flood victims and repairing roads and schools. Losses to the agricultural sector alone are estimated to be in the range of 140 million ringgit (US$40 million; ?31 million)

Residents called the deluges the worst in recent memory, with floodwaters as high as 4 meters (13 feet) cutting off access to many towns and villages. About 30,000 people are still sheltering in relief centers in Malaysia's southernmost state, Johor.

New Straits Times 31 Jan 07
Floods round-up: Reclamation work may be a cause

JOHOR BARU: The massive land reclamation work by Singapore at Pulau Tekong may have contributed to the recent floods.

The land reclamation is said to have narrowed the river mouth of Sungai Johor, causing the massive destruction in Kota Tinggi.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the narrowing of the river mouth had slowed the discharge of excess rain water into the Johor Straits. He was speaking after receiving a RM5 million donation from the Al-Bukhary Foundation for the Johor flood victims.

Singapore started land reclamation in 2002 along the eastern and western parts of the Johor Straits, near the Malaysian mainland.

The republic’s reclamation work, involving 5,214ha of sea area, is expected to be completed in 2010. It would lengthen the headland in Tuas by 7km and double the size of Pulau Tekong, which lies opposite the mouth of Sungai Johor.

Malaysia launched international arbitration proceedings against Singapore in October 2003, saying the land reclamation had damaged its interests by, among other things, narrowing the shipping lanes around the Johor Straits.

It also applied to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for an interim order to stop the reclamation works. The Hamburg-based tribunal heard the case in September 2003. It then ruled that the reclamation could continue, but ordered both sides to set up an independent group of experts to study the impact.

It was agreed that the recommendations of the experts would be used as the basis of a "mutually acceptable and beneficial solution".

Ghani said Kota Tinggi was in urgent need of new flood mitigation measures. "One option is to widen the banks of Sungai Johor." There was a need for new and radical measures as Kota Tinggi would otherwise suffer from repeated flooding. To worsen the problem, excess rain water from upstream and the surrounding catchment areas also flowed into Sungai Johor, causing its banks to burst.

Channel NewsAsia 31 Jan 07
Johor minister says Singapore land reclamation cause of recent floods

JOHOR: The Chief Minister of Malaysia's Johor state has cited land reclamation by neighbouring Singapore as a cause of the recent massive recent flooding. 17 people died and 100,000 were evacuated from their homes during the floods.

According to Malaysian daily, the New Straits Times, Mr Abdul Ghani Othman said the floods were due to the narrowing of the Johor River mouth caused by reclamation on Singapore's Tekong island located opposite the waterway. He said the river burst its banks after excess rain water could not flow out to the sea fast enough.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, however, said it was too early to tell if the flooding was linked to the reclamation. "There are all sorts of allegations but we can't come to a conclusion unless a thorough technical study is done on the cause of Johor's floods. The real cause is the exceptionally heavy rainfall," he said.

A spokesperson from Singapore's Ministry of National Development says these comments are unfounded and this is confirmed by the results from technical studies that were commissioned separately by both Malaysia and Singapore.

The studies were 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. Singapore said a coastal hydraulic study undertaken by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage in 2002 found that there were no appreciable changes to water levels within the Straits of Johor under projected worst case flood scenarios which could happen once in 100 years. The study concluded that there was no increased flooding caused by Singapore's reclamation works.

Separately, an environmental impact assessment report prepared by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and commissioned by the Malaysian government also reported similar findings. So too, did technical studies commissioned separately by the Singapore government in 2003.

The Ministry added that 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. - CNA /dt

Today Online 1 Feb 07
S'pore rebuts Johor CM's flood claim
MND cites studies to counter his allegation

JOHOR BARU: According to a senior Malaysian official, even the recent floods in Johor Baru are Singapore's fault.

Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman told the New Straits Times that it was Singapore's reclamation project on Tekong island, close to the Johor river, that caused it to flood.

Mr Abdul Ghani claimed that this caused the mouth of the river to narrow and excess rain water could not be discharged. The river then burst its banks in Kota Tinggi, he said, submerging homes and streets.

Singapore has rebutted the claim and even Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has distanced himself from his colleague's statement. "There are all sorts of allegations but we can't reach any conclusion unless a thorough technical study is done on the cause of floods in Johor," he said. "The actual cause of the floods is exceptionally heavy rainfall."

Meanwhile Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) said in response to media queries: "The comments are unfounded. This is confirmed by the results from the technical studies that were commissioned separately by both the Malaysian government and the Singapore government."

The studies were carried out as part of the proceedings before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to settle the dispute on Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong and Tuas View Extension.

The MND pointed out that a study carried out by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage in 2002 on the impact of the reclamation works should there were no appreciable changes to the water levels within the Straits of Johor for flood flows.

"As such, the study concluded that there is no increased flooding due to Singapore's reclamation works," said the MND. Other studies came to similar conclusions.

Both governments then accepted that it would not be necessary for the flood impact to be assessed any further. "There is, therefore, no scientific basis to the allegations that the flood is caused by Singapore's land reclamation works in Pulau Tekong," said the MND.

The Johor administration has come under increasing pressure in the wake of the floods that killed 17 people and left Malaysia with a massive RM1.5 billion bill--the cost of helping the flood victims and repairing roads and schools. About 30,000 people are still taking shelter at relief centres.

Until now the Johor government had not pointed fingers at anybody over the floods. In fact, it had been banking on visitors from Singapore to help bring its economy back on its feet.

Straits Times 1 Feb 07
'Study causes of floods before blaming S'pore'
Najib's remarks come as S'pore says reclamation work not to blame

MALAYSIA'S Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called for a full study to be done into the causes of the recent flooding in Johor before fingers are pointed at Singapore.

'There have been all kinds of claims, but we cannot draw conclusions without an in-depth technical study,' Bernama news agency reported him as saying in Kuala Lumpur. He said without a technical study, conclusions could not be drawn on the cause of the recent floods in Johor.

He made his remarks to reporters when asked to comment on Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman's claim that massive land reclamation works by Singapore at Pulau Tekong at the mouth of the Johor River had contributed to the floods in Kota Tinggi. Datuk Seri Najib said the government was setting up a technical committee and the cause of the floods would be determined by experts.

His comments came as Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) yesterday rejected Datuk Abdul Ghani's claims as unfounded.

Responding to media queries on the Johor Menteri Besar's remarks, an MND spokesman said in a statement: 'The comments are unfounded. 'This is confirmed by the results from technical studies that were commissioned separately by both the Malaysian government and the Singapore government as part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) dispute settlement proceedings on Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong and Tuas View Extension.

'A coastal hydraulic study undertaken by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage in September 2002 on the impact of Singapore's reclamation works concluded that...there is no increased flooding due to Singapore's reclamation works.'

It added: 'A separate Environmental Impact Assessment report prepared by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia commissioned by the Malaysian government reported similar findings.

'Technical studies commissioned separately by the Singapore government in 2003 also reached the same conclusions.

'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. There is therefore no scientific basis to the allegations that the flooding is caused by Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong.'

A News Straits Times report yesterday said the land reclamation work by Singapore at Pulau Tekong might have contributed to the recent floods in Johor. The land reclamation is said to have narrowed the river mouth of Sungai Johor, causing the massive destruction in Kota Tinggi. Datuk Abdul Ghani told the paper that the narrowing of the river mouth had slowed the discharge of excess rain water into the Johor Strait.

Channel NewsAsia 1 Feb 07
Malaysia downplays claims floods caused by Singapore

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia on Thursday stepped back from remarks by a state official blaming Singapore for recent flooding that has caused more than US$425 million in damage.

The chief minister of Malaysia's Johor state, which was hardest hit by the flooding, reportedly blamed Singapore for narrowing a river mouth which he said impeded drainage during the December and January floods.

But Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar downplayed those comments, saying there were "all sorts of possibilities" that had led to the devastation. "Before we give any view about what are the causes of the flood and all this sort of thing, we are going to undertake a technical study," Syed Hamid told reporters.

More than 100,000 people had to be evacuated in Johor each time the flood waters came. Southern Malaysia and Singapore are connected by road and rail links across the narrow Johor Strait.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak also dismissed the remarks by Johor chief minister Abdul Ghani Othman. "People are fond of making all kinds of accusations. This ought to be substantiated," he was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.

The two countries have clashed over the reclamation works, just one of many issues dogging relations since Singapore became independent in 1965 after being ejected from the Malaysian federation. - AFP/ch

Bernama 1 Feb 07
No Scientific Basis To Say Reclamation Caused Johor Floods - Singapore
By Jackson Sawatan

SINGAPORE, Feb 1 (Bernama) -- 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.

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.

"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.

New Straits Times 2 Feb 07
Syed Hamid: Technical study will shed light on floods

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia yesterday steered clear of remarks by Johor blaming Singapore for recent flooding that has caused more than RM425 million in damage.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar downplayed remarks by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, saying there were "all sorts of possibilities" that had led to the devastation.

"Before we give any view about what triggered the floods and all this sort of thing, we are going to undertake a technical study," Syed Hamid told reporters. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also had dismissed Ghani’s remarks.

The Johor MB had said the recent floods that devastated the state may have been caused by Singapore’s land reclamation work on Pulau Tekong opposite the mouth of Sungai Johor. He had said the reclamation had effectively plugged the mouth of Sungai Johor, causing it to burst its banks after torrential rains in January and flood the inland town of Kota Tinggi. Yesterday, Singapore rejected Ghani’s claim.

"The comments are unfounded," Singapore’s Ministry of National Development said in a statement. "This is confirmed by the results from technical studies that were commissioned separately by both the Malaysian government and the Singapore government," the ministry said.

Last month’s floods were the worst to hit the region in nearly 40 years, killing at least 15 and forcing more than 100,000 into emergency shelters.
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