Joint Statement for the Meeting Between PM Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian PM Najib Razak on the Implementation of the Points of Agreement on Malayan Railway Land in Singapore

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak met in Singapore on 20 September 2010 to follow up on their earlier meetings of 24 May 2010 and 22 June 2010.

At the Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat on 24 May 2010, the two leaders issued a Joint Statement that they had agreed on the steps to move the Points of Agreement (POA) forward, and that both countries would embark on new bilateral co-operation, including the development of a rapid transit system link and an iconic project in Iskandar Malaysia.

On 22 June 2010, Prime Minister Lee visited Malaysia to discuss the land swap issue with Prime Minister Najib and conveyed Singapore’s offer on the land swap. Following the same meeting, Prime Minister Lee sent a revised land swap offer to Prime Minister Najib on 28 June 2010. Prime Minister Najib accepted the offer on 17 September 2010 and Prime Minister Lee replied on 19 September 2010 confirming his agreement. Both Leaders have agreed as follows:

• The Singapore Government shall vest four land parcels in Marina South (TS30-361T, TS30-362A, TS30-363K and TS30-364N) and two land parcels in Ophir-Rochor (TS13-1115N and TS13- 1116X) in M-S Pte Ltd, in lieu of the three parcels of POA land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands and three pieces of land in Bukit Timah (Lot 76-2 Mk 16, Lot 249pt Mk 4 and Lot 32-10 Mk 16).
   
• The four Marina South parcels are located at the heart of the financial and business cluster in Singapore's Marina Bay, while the two Ophir-Rochor parcels are located next to the Kampong Glam Historic District, in a new growth corridor that is being developed as an extension of Singapore's Central Business District.
   
• The Marina South and Ophir-Rochor land parcels shall be vested in M-S Pte Ltd for joint development when Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) vacates the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (TPRS). The KTMB station will be relocated from Tanjong Pagar to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (“WTCP”) by 1 July 2011 whereby Malaysia would co-locate its railway Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (“CIQ”) facilities at WTCP.
   
• Both countries have different views relating to the development charges payable on the three parcels of POA land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands. Both Leaders have agreed to settle this issue amicably through arbitration under the auspices of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. They have further agreed to accept the arbitration award as final and binding.
   
• Both Leaders also agreed that the arbitration will proceed on its own track, and shall not affect the implementation of the POA and the other bilateral initiatives agreed in the Joint Statement of 24 May 2010, which shall continue to be implemented.
   
• The Joint Implementation Team shall conclude by 31 December 2010 their discussion on the details of the implementation of the POA.
   

Both Leaders reiterated their commitment to the matters set out in the Joint Statement of 24 May 2010, including:

• The 50-50 joint venture company between Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings Limited to undertake the development of the iconic wellness township project in Iskandar Malaysia.
   
• The joint development of a rapid transit system link between Johor Bahru and Singapore with a single co-located CIQ facility in Singapore aimed at enhancing connectivity between the two countries.
   

Both Leaders noted with satisfaction the progress on a number of bilateral initiatives, including:

• The increase in cross-border bus services between Singapore and Johor;
   
• The reduction of tolls at both the Singapore and Malaysian sides of the Second Link since 1 August 2010; and
   
• Joint co-operation on the environment and tourism, including the joint study on a cross-border eco-tourism project twinning Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Singapore side with the three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai at Johor under a ”One Experience, Two Destinations” concept.
   

Prime Minister Najib expressed Malaysia’s appreciation on Singapore’s decision to hand over the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement to the Johor water authorities free of charge and in good working order upon the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement on 31 August 2011.

Both Leaders encouraged the Joint Implementation Team, led by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore to maintain the momentum of its work on the implementation details.