As part of the Annual Exchange of Visits (AEV) between the Environment Ministries of Malaysia and Singapore, H.E. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources visited Malaysia on 7-8 May 2010 at the invitation of H.E. Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
2. Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas led the Malaysian delegation which comprised Dato’ Zoal Azha bin Yusof, Secretary-General (Natural Resources and Environment) and other senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment and other Government agencies.
3. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim’s visiting delegation comprised Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tan Yong Soon, Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources) and other senior officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, National Environment Agency, PUB and other government agencies.
4. During the visit, the two Ministers reviewed the progress of work carried out by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE). There were fruitful discussions and exchanges of views on the following areas of cooperation:
(i) Control of Vehicular Emissions
Both countries had made marked improvement in tackling vehicular pollution and would continue to share experiences on controlling vehicular emissions, such as the tightening of vehicular emission standards and promoting the use of “green vehicles”.
(ii) Joint Monitoring of Water Quality in the Straits of Johor (SOJ)
The Ministers reiterated the need to further improve the water quality in the SOJ.
(iii) Progress Report on the Monitoring of Ecology and Morphology in and around the Straits of Johor
Researchers/scientists from Singapore and Malaysia agreed to continue the exchange of information on the monitoring of ecology and morphology in and around the SOJ in order to conserve the biodiversity of both countries.
(iv) Pollution in Skudai Water Catchment
Malaysia will continue to exchange information with Singapore on water quality of Sungai Skudai and actions taken to reduce the pollution.
(v) Emergency Response Plan for Chemical Spill at Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing
The Ministers commended the MSJCE for having successfully conducted the 7th Joint Emergency Chemical Spill Exercise at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing on 2 Dec 2009. The seventh exercise recorded the largest number of participants to-date. It provided a good opportunity for both countries to test and improve their existing response plan.
The next emergency response exercise will be organised by Singapore, tentatively in early 2011.
(vi) Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for Chemical Spill In the East Johor Straits
A tabletop exercise would be conducted tentatively in June 2010 by Singapore to prepare for the field exercise between Malaysia-Singapore on response to chemical spill in East Johor Straits (EJS) in 2011.
(vii) Collaboration Between Malaysia and Singapore in the Area of Oil Spill Prevention and Control in the Straits of Johor
Both countries had been working together to exchange information to prevent and control oil pollution, including the discharge of oily wastes into the SOJ and also update the existing procedures for Control of Tanker Desludging Activities and Disposal of Tanker Sludge in Malaysia and Singapore. Both countries will explore the possibilities including mechanism of working together to control oil spill in the SOJ.
(viii) Collaboration in Training between Environment Institute of Malaysia (EiMAS) and Singapore Environment Institute (SEI)
The two institutes had conducted several training exchange programmes and planned to conduct more programmes and send officials to participate in each other’s programmes.
(ix) Transboundary Haze Pollution
The Ministers reiterated the importance of continuing to work closely through the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution, involving Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, in strengthening cooperation in tackling transboundary haze pollution arising from land and forest fires.
5. Started since 1979, the Annual Exchange of Visits has served to forge closer environmental co-operation and ties between the two Ministries.
6. While in Malaysia, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim and his delegation also participated in the 23rd Annual MEWR-MNRE Friendly Games. Some 300 staff and officials from both Ministries took part in this year’s annual games to renew old ties and establish new friendships.
7. The next AEV will be held in Singapore in 2011.
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JOINTLY ISSUED BY: MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT, MALAYSIA
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES, SINGAPORE
DATE: 7 MAY 2010
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