Singapore urges Johor to honour the terms of the 1962 Water Agreement

Johor’s chief minister said he plans to stop buying treated water from Singapore.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that all of those involved in the 1962 Water Agreement must honour its terms, following the announcement of Johor chief minister Osman Sapian on 1 March.

Malaysian media reported that Johor chief minister Osman Sapian wishes to stop buying treated water from Singapore. He also said that the terms of the 1962 Water Agreement — in which Singapore sells treated water sourced from Malaysia back to the latter — are “morally wrong”.

“Singapore notes the Johor state government’s plans to increase its capacity to produce treated water to meet its own needs. This does not affect Singapore’s position that all parties, including Johor, must honour the terms of the 1962 Water Agreement, which no party can unilaterally change,” an MFA spokesperson said.