A file picture of trucks carrying goods from Malaysia waiting to enter the Woodlands land border checkpoint into Singapore on June 29, 2022. – AFP
SINGAPORE: Singapore's proposal to purchase two plots of land belonging to Malaysia that will be affected by the redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint (WCP) is still being deliberated by Malaysian authorities.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar said it is logical for Singapore to buy the land.
However he said a sale or swap of land, which both countries have done before, has yet to be decided.
"Singapore has written to Malaysia (to purchase the land). The relevant authority in Malaysia is deliberating it. So far, we have not received any feedback from them," said Azfar to Malaysian journalists on Saturday (Jan 17).
Azfar said all government land abroad is registered under the Federal Lands Commissioner.
He said Singapore expressed its intention to buy the freehold lands last year, which covers an area of about 0.93ha (2.3 acres).
Azfar said he had proposed a swap of land but it was up to the federal government to decide.
In September 2010, Singapore and Malaysia sealed a land swap deal to resolve the acquisition involving Malayan railway land in the republic which involved three plots of land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands, as well as another three in Bukit Timah.
In exchange, Singapore offered four parcels of land in Marina South and two parcels in Ophir-Rochor.
The Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) recently said it would be redeveloping WCP for a more sustainable and long-term solution to address the chronic congestion at the crossing with Malaysia.
The redeveloped WCP will be operationalised progressively from 2028.
ICA said it has conducted extensive feasibility and technical studies to determine the optimal amount of land needed to meet future demands.
The land required for the redevelopment of WCP can only be met through land acquisition and land reclamation.
Asked if Malaysia still owns land in Singapore, Azfar said: "We (the federal) have pockets of land around the island. One of them is an acre of land at Holland Village," said Azfar adding that this excludes land in the republic owned by Johor. – Bernama
