Joint Statement by Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 27 June 2011

1. Prime Minister of Malaysia and Prime Minister of Singapore recalled the historical significance of the Joint Statements of 24 May 2010, 22 June 2010 and 20 September 2010 in which they had agreed on the steps to move the Points of Agreement on Malayan Railway Land in Singapore (POA) forward, and that both countries would embark on new bilateral co-operation, including the development of a rapid transit system (RTS) link and an iconic wellness-related project in Iskandar Malaysia.

2. Both Leaders are pleased to note that the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Implementation Team (MSJIT), established pursuant to the Joint Statement of 24 May 2010, has completed its work on the implementation details. These details have been encapsulated in a written instrument which has been approved by the respective Governments and signed by His Excellency Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia and His Excellency, K. Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law, Singapore on 27 June 2011 in Putrajaya. The written instrument provides, among other things, that:-

• Singapore shall facilitate the relocation of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station from Tanjong Pagar to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) and shall ensure bus and taxi service connectivity from the KTMB station at the WTCP to a nearby MRT station for the convenience of train passengers. Malaysia's current Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) operations at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (TPRS) will be relocated to WTCP, to be operated at WTCP on the same basis and with the same status as the CIQ operations at TPRS.

• The establishment of M+S Pte Ltd, a company 60% held by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) and 40% held by Temasek Holdings Limited (Temasek), and the framework for its governance and operations will be in accordance with the shareholders agreement between Temasek and Khazanah and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of M+S Pte Ltd. M+S Pte Ltd will develop the four land parcels in Marina South as an integrated development and the two land parcels in Ophir-Rochor also as an integrated development.

• The terminating stations of the RTS link will be in the vicinity of JB Sentral, Johor Bahru and in the vicinity of Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. It is targeted that the RTS link will be operational by 2018. The RTS link will have a co-located CIQ facility in Singapore and another co-located CIQ facility in Johor Bahru so that commuters need to clear immigration only once for each way of travel.

• A 50-50 joint venture company to be established by Khazanah and Temasek ("Iskandar JVCo") will undertake two developments in Iskandar Malaysia, namely the Urban Wellness development in Medini North and the Resort Wellness development in Medini Central, both located in Mukim Pulai, Johor Bahru, Johor with a total area of approximately 215 acres. In addition, Khazanah and Temasek will jointly consider other potential developments which are commercially viable in Iskandar Malaysia of up to 500 acres of land, inclusive of the said 215 acres.
  

3. Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to take bilateral relations to a new stage of enhanced partnership and expressed their mutual desire for the continued and expeditious implementation of the elements agreed. Both Leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress in the implementation of the POA and the Leaders' Joint Statements. All preparations for KTMB's relocation to WTCP on 1 July 2011 are on track. M+S Pte Ltd and Iskandar JVCo will be established by 30 June 2011. Plans for the two developments in Iskandar Malaysia are proceeding smoothly. In addition, the TPRS building was gazetted as a national monument on 8 April 2011 and the Bukit Timah Railway Station building was gazetted as a conserved building on 27 May 2011.

4. On the RTS link, both Leaders noted that good progress had been made on its implementation. A technical workgroup has been formed to finalise the terms of reference to appoint a consultant to develop possible alignments and proposals for the RTS link. The workgroup targets to call tender for the consultancy study by the 4th Quarter of 2011.

5. On the handing over of the waterworks under the 1961 Water Agreement by Singapore free of charge and as a matter of goodwill after the expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement on 31 August 2011, both Leaders noted that the Joint Technical Committee on the Expiry of the 1961 Water Agreement had agreed on its work plan and the implementation of the work plan is on schedule.

6. Prime Minister Najib Razak and Prime Minister Lee expressed appreciation and satisfaction on the work done by the Ministers and officials in achieving this historic breakthrough. Both Prime Ministers also reiterated their commitments towards further strengthening bilateral relations. They noted that the resolution of the POA would pave the way for the two countries to explore new areas of cooperation.

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27 JUNE 2011