Malaysia Still Deciding On The Fate Of Two Plots Of Land At Woodlands Singapore
SINGAPORE, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Singapore’s proposal to purchase two plots of land belonging to Malaysia that will be affected by the redevelopment of 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 or not Malaysia wants to sell or swap them, which both countries have done before, has yet to be decided.
“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 when met by Malaysian journalists on Saturday.
According to Azfar, all government land abroad is registered under the Federal Lands Commissioner. He said Singapore expressed its intention last year to buy the freehold lands which were sized at about 2.3 acres in total.
Azfar said he had proposed a land 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, respectively, as well as another three in Bukit Timah (areas in Singapore).
In place, Singapore offered in exchange four parcels of land in Marina South and two parcels in Ophir-Rochor (an area in the central region of Singapore).
The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has 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.
The 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) have pockets of land around the island. One of them is an acre at Holland Village,” adding that this excludes land in the republic owned by Johor (a state in southern Peninsular Malaysia).
-- BERNAMA
