Environment bodies of S'pore and KL 'still have good ties'
RELATIONS between the Singapore and Malaysian environment authorities are still good, contrary to the impression created by some press reports, Mr Mah Bow Tan assured MPs yesterday.
The Environment Minister was responding to Mr Ibrahim Othman’s (Thomson GRC) concern that a recent incident involving three Singapore-registered vessels had affected ties.
In January, three Singapore-registered vessels, the Redwood, Songsan and Solo, were detained by Malaysia for alleged offences, Including dumping wastes in Malaysian waters.
Songsan and Solo, however, fled detention.
Malaysian newspapers had reported, among other things, that Singapore authorities were not forthcoming in giving information and were not helpful with efforts to apprehend the culprits.
In his speech, Mr Ibrahim said that Singapore was accused of dragging its feet over the matter and the Malaysian press "had distorted many facts".
"Even the Malaysian Environment Minister was reported to be very unhappy about Singapore’s lack of cooperation," he added.
In his reply, Mr Mah said that information was provided "expeditiously" to the Malaysian authorities, and a special meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) was convened promptly.
As a result, the owners of all three vessels had since pleaded guilty and paid up their fines.
Emphasising that Singapore did not condone illegal tanker-cleaning and dumping, he added that the primary concern of both countries was to prevent pollution caused by such activities as it would "affect us as well as our neighbours".
He said that Singapore would continue to work closely with the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities to prevent such activities.
Source : The Straits Times 23rd Mar 1995
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