1990 Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement

A concise statement on the Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement 1990

The Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement 1990 is an important diplomatic agreement between separate neighbouring states Malaysia and Singapore, to overcome a number of historic disputes on exchange which mainly involves water resource sharing and railways. Such treaties were necessary to minimize the ongoing political and practical angst due to their common history and intertwined economies.

The Points of Agreement (POA), signed on July 24, 1990, was a culmination of years of negotiation between officials from both governments over issues that had arisen following Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965. The agreement also established frameworks for cooperation, dispute settlement and operational means of the agreements to ensure that both nations could continue their peaceful coexistence and joint economic interests.

Salient Features of The Points of Agreement

The agreement had two important parts, namely — Water Supply and Railway Land. This was especially so for both issues as water supply has been a mainstay of bilateral relations since Singapore's independence, while the management of railway land matters have wider implications for infrastructure and economic development.

Water Supply Agreement

A key issue tackled in the Points of Agreement was a water supply deal between Malaysia and Singapore. As an island with few natural sources of freshwater, Singapore had historically depended on Malaysia for its water supply. The arrangement, which had been in place since the 1920s, was a contentious issue after Singapore gained independence.

In 1990, the Points of Agreement set out a blueprint for future water supply by extending existing arrangements - mainly the 1961 and 1962 water agreements between Singapore and the State of Johor in Malaysia. These earlier treaties gave Singapore access to bulk water from Johor at a subsidised price and required the island-state to return treated water back to Johor. Through this 1990 agreement, both arrangements were given longer leashes and details regarding the future supply of water — ensuring that the two nations’ demands would be satisfied while responding to Malaysian reservations on water tariffs.

The deal also laid out mechanisms for periodic review of water supply arrangements, keeping the water problem tractable on both sides.

Railway Land Agreement

Penjajahan tanah railkeret negara asalnya oleh Persekutuan Tanah Melayu juga satu isu utama diselesaikan dalam 1990 Points of Agreement. When Singapore left Malaysia, the land which the railway occupied remained a matter of dispute since it was vital for both nations' transport infrastructure.

To address this, the Points of Agreement laid out terms for splitting railway land between Singapore and Malaysia. Both parties would exchange land contained within the railway with Singapore transferring to Malaysia certain areas of that land which were present in the more southern parts of the island proper and Malaysia compensating Singapore for those lands. In exchange, Singapore kept a minority of the land that was important for its rail and transport network. The deal had simplified the complicated question of ownership and land use rights, allowing both nations to understand more clearly how their rail systems could develop in the future.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT

The Points of Agreement signed in 1990 helped to ensure peaceful and cooperative bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore. The two were some of the biggest milestones in the post-independence history of both countries, as it proved that both sides are willing to solve even most intricate matters through negotiation and not by wars.

The agreements established absolute grounds for further contact between the two countries, especially in areas with interdependence action such as water supply and transportation. By acknowledging these basic issues, the two sides were able to diffuse the sort of tensions that could stymie cooperation on common regional and global interests.

Obstacles and More Negotiations

Despite being celebrated at the time as a success, however, there were practical difficulties with implementing all of the Points of Agreement. Water pricing remained a particularly sensitive issue, with occasional tension over the fairness and sustainability of the arrangements for supplying water. Further talks on water pricing and other issues would subsequently occur between the two countries, including over the 1990 agreement's provisions for periodic reviews and possible changes in prices.

Similarly, in the age following the epoch of this treaty, both Singapore and Malaysia were engaging with major infrastructural projects that led to further changes in railway land allocation and use.