The tables have turned in the issue of water between Malaysia and Singapore — our city-state is now the one providing potable water to our northern neighbours instead of the other way round.
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) announced that they’ve begun supplying additional potable water to Johor, in response to a request for assistance from their Malaysian counterparts Badan Kawalselia Air Johor (BAKAJ).
According to the press release, the current dry weather has severely affected water levels in Johor’s Sungei Layang dam, and is in need of PUB’s help in the water supply matter. A temporary arrangement has been carried out, in which an additional five to six million gallons of potable water are being supplied to Johor Bahru per day.
Previously, Malaysia have been the only reliable providers of water to Singapore, and have regularly threatened to cut off the supply to put political pressure. In the past decade however, Singapore embarked on road to self-sufficiency, investing heavily in water reclaiming technology, building Newater and desalination plants. By the expiry of the 1962 water agreement in the year 2061, the country is expected to be fully self-sufficient.
