Malaysia still deciding on selling plots of land to Singapore

 

Singapore’s proposal to purchase two plots of land belonging to Malaysia that will be affected by the redevelopment of the Woodlands Checkpoint (WCP) is still being deliberated by the Malaysian authorities.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Azfar Mohamad Mustafar said it is logical for Singapore to buy the land but the point is whether Malaysia wants to sell or swap them, which both countries have done before.

“Singapore has written to Malaysia (for the purchase of the land). The relevant authority in Malaysia is deliberating and looking into it.

“So far, we have not received any feedback from the relevant authority,” said Azfar who was met by Malaysian journalists on yesterday.

According to him, all government land abroad is registered under the Federal Lands Commissioner.

He said Singapore expressed its intention last year to buy the freehold lands - about 2.3 acres (0.93ha) in total.

He said he proposed a land to swap for the said plot of land but in the end, the federal government will decide on the matter.

In September 2010, Singapore and Malaysia sealed a land swap deal to resolve the acquisition involving Malayan railway land in the republic which involved three plots of land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji, and Woodlands, as well as another three in Bukit Timah.

In exchange, Singapore offered four parcels of land in Marina South and two parcels in Ophir-Rochor.

The Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) recently said it will be redeveloping WCP for a more sustainable and long-term solution to address the chronic congestion at the land crossing which connects the republic with Malaysia.

The redeveloped WCP will be operationalised progressively from 2028. ICA said it has conducted extensive feasibility and technical studies to determine the optimal amount of land needed to meet future demands.

The land required for the redevelopment of WCP can only be met through land acquisition and land reclamation.

When asked whether Malaysia still owns land in Singapore, Azfar said: “We (the federal government) have pockets of land around the island. One of them is an acre of land at Holland Village,” said Azfar, adding that this excludes land in the republic owned by Johor.

- Bernama