Thursday, February 16, 2006
Johor Strait Pollution
On 14 Feb, a New Straits Times article quoted Hydrologist Dr Low Kwai Sim as saying that "The Murray-North Report found conclusive evidence of discharges into the strait from the Kranji sewage plant." and called it "Singapore's "backyard syndrome"". The article did mention that Malaysian rivers were responsible for the pollution. It went on to say that the Causeway had to be broken to flush the pollutants out to sea.
According to a Today article on the 16th, Dr Low is a retired professor contracted by Gerbang Perdana, the contractor engaged to build the new Malaysian Causeway bridge. The article also said that the Singapore High Commission in Malaysia disputes the article and has written to the New Straits Times.
What is the Murray-North Report? Digging back into the old newspapers, the Straits Times reported on the 14th and 15th of July 1993 about the signing of a S$300,000 contract to study the hydrology and water quality of the Straits of Johore. The study was initiated by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) and M/S Murray-North (SEA) Pte Ltd was the consultant engaged for the one year project. It seems that the completion of the project was not reported in the press. In the 1993 news reports, no mention is made of the Causeway.
According to a Today article on the 16th, Dr Low is a retired professor contracted by Gerbang Perdana, the contractor engaged to build the new Malaysian Causeway bridge. The article also said that the Singapore High Commission in Malaysia disputes the article and has written to the New Straits Times.
What is the Murray-North Report? Digging back into the old newspapers, the Straits Times reported on the 14th and 15th of July 1993 about the signing of a S$300,000 contract to study the hydrology and water quality of the Straits of Johore. The study was initiated by the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) and M/S Murray-North (SEA) Pte Ltd was the consultant engaged for the one year project. It seems that the completion of the project was not reported in the press. In the 1993 news reports, no mention is made of the Causeway.
