Najib says Umno backs Singapore deal
(Reuters) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak declared today that he had obtained the backing of the Umno supreme council for the government’s decision to relocate the Tanjong Pagar railway station in Singapore.
The prime minister also said more meetings with Singapore would be required to solve other contentious bilateral issues.
“My explanation was accepted by the supreme council and they are of the view that the solution is a win-win for both Malaysia and Singapore,” said Najib after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting here.
On former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestions to solve other bilateral issues, Najib said those matters would be addressed in stages.
“We look at these in stages. One meeting cannot solve everything,” he said.
“I believe with trust, a lot of issues can be addressed,” said Najib.
Earlier today Dr Mahathir said that price of water sold to Singapore, the retirement funds issue and the construction of a new bridge linking the two countries should also be addressed.
Najib and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong on Monday announced the decision to move the Tanjong Pagar railway station next year based on a Point of Agreement (POA) signed in 1990.
The decision also involves the relocation of Malaysia’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities to Woodlands.
The two governments also announced the formation of a company to jointly develop parcels of land now owned by Malayan Railway (Keretapi Tanah Melayu or KTM).
The Tanjong Pagar railway land was acquired under a 1918 colonial ordinance specifically for use by KTM for a period of 999 years.
That same ordinance limits the use of this land. The land, which the main railway station is situated on, is considered prime land.
The 1990 POA states that the railway station would be moved either to Bukit Timah first, or directly to Woodlands. In exchange, under the 1990 POA, three parcels of railway land — at Tanjong Pagar, Kranjiand Woodlands — would be jointly developed on a 60/40 basis with the Malaysian government holding the larger share.
Mahathir still studying Malaysia-Singapore agreement
(Bernama) — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he is still studying the agreement reached between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.
“I have yet to identify the positive and the negative aspect. I expected all the problems could be resolved but several were untouched,” he said after presenting the keynote address at the 5th Malaysian Conference on Healthy Ageing here today.
Dr Mahathir said issues left untouched include the water agreement which ends next year (2011) and the new bridge.
“I am studying to see whether they are according to the Point of Agreement (PoA) reached,” he said when commenting on the joint development of Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) land in Tanjung Pagar and relocation of KTM station to Woodlands, Singapore.
He expected Najib’s three-day visit to Singapore would solve contentious bilateral issues, particularly the bridge, as traffic congestion on the Johor Causeway had worsen.
