Malaysia to weigh Singapore’s water project plan, Anwar says ‘no longer contentious’ issue

The two countries have disagreed over water supply for decades, such as the perceived low prices charged by Malaysia’s Johor

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The border crossing connecting Singapore to the Malaysian southern city of Johor Bahru. The state of Johor supplies untreated water to Singapore daily. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:40pm, 4 Dec 2025Updated: 1:58pm, 5 Dec 2025

Malaysia said on Thursday that it would consider a proposal by Singapore to jointly develop water infrastructure in southern Johor, signalling the intention of both sides to move beyond decades of rancour over the vital resource.

The two countries have for years disagreed over various issues related to water supply, ranging from prices to the interpretation of the 1962 water agreement signed by them. Malaysia has argued that Johor’s water is sold too cheaply to Singapore.

With Johor experiencing a water crisis, which experts attribute to climate change, rampant pollution, river dredging and resource-guzzling data centres in the state, the two countries look set to step up cooperation to improve the supply of the resource.

Any major disruption in water supply in Johor will not only affect its 1.7 million households but also the 6 million people living in Singapore.

The city state sources about 40 per cent of its water from Johor, according to United Nations data.

“Yes, treated water from Singapore originates from Johor, but the requirements in Johor are also huge,” Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday at a joint press conference in Singapore alongside his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong.

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