Singapore wants to discuss practical problems at IDR talks

Singapore wants to discuss practical problems at IDR talks

SINGAPORE: The island republic will bring up “some practical problems” with Malaysia when both sides sit down for their first joint ministerial committee meeting on the Iskandar Development Region.

Its Foreign Minister George Yeo said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Transport Minister Raymond Lim will represent Singapore at the weekend meeting in Johor.

“I believe with the present spirit of cooperation and goodwill, we should be able to do something to promote easier flow between the two sides, which would be good for the IDR,” he said in a report carried by Channel NewsAsia.

“If there are no borders, then water will find its own level and a lot of the economic growth in Singapore will spill over into the IDR, which will lower our own costs.

“It will be good for Johor. It will be good for Singapore. Both sides will benefit,” Yeo added.

“The pie will grow faster and there will be plenty to be shared.

“But, of course, there is a border, there is a fence. So the water doesn't flow completely and there is a certain pressure difference, but to the extent that there is connectivity and ferocity, that is good for both sides.”

The joint ministerial committee was formed following a retreat between Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Langkawi in May.

Malaysia envisaged the IDR, a 2,217sq km area in south Johor, as a new growth area, complementing Singapore's growth, the way Shenzhen province in China complements Hong Kong. – Bernama