SM Goh: S’pore will have enough water
By Joy Fang, AsiaOne News
SINGAPORE will have enough water for itself even if there is no new water agreement after the second water agreement with Malaysia expires in 2061, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
During an event at Marina Barrage to mark World Water Day 2011 yesterday, Mr Goh said Singapore is today “much less dependent” on Malaysia, from which it imports water.
The second water agreement with Malaysia was signed in 1962, and allows Singapore to draw up to 250 million gallons daily from the Johor River.
Mr Goh said: “Besides imported water from Malaysia, we have water from local catchments, Newater and desalinated water. We will continue to expand the water supply to meet the needs of our population and growing economy.”
Meanwhile, at a World Water Day event at Pandan Reservoir yesterday, the managing director of Sony Electronics Singapore, Mr Narihiko Uemura, said that the Japan disasters on March 11 showed the importance of conserving water.
He said: “As the recent disasters show, nature is extremely fragile… We need to do our part in conserving the natural environment.”
Sony Electronics donated about 100 rain gardens – containers packed with plants and soil, which filter and purify rainwater – during the event.
The Sony group of companies in Singapore, which includes Sony Electronics, Sony Pictures and Sony Music, are also calling for donations from their employees for Japan disaster victims. They will match the funds raised, dollar for dollar.
Other organisations have also stepped up to lend Japan a hand. Mercy Relief is collecting donations at all 54 Mr Bean outlets and 11 restaurants under the Jumbo Group.
Jumbo said it will donate $1 from every customer bill until the end of the month. It expects to raise about $30,000.
