M’sia and S’pore follow up on issues

Raw water price among topics raised by Dr M during meeting with Lee

SINGAPORE: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made good on his promise to inform Singapore that it wants to renegotiate the “ridiculous” price of raw water sold to the island republic during a meeting with his counterpart here.

It is understood that Dr Mahathir raised it during the four-eyed meeting with Lee Hsien Loong yesterday at the Istana, the official office of the Prime Minister.

When he met with Malaysian media accompanying him for his official visit to Singapore, Dr Mahathir confirmed that he had raised the matter.

“We raised some of the issues which in the past were regarded as controversial. I stated our stand on it and I think, by and large, he was quite accommodating.

“He listened to my views and I think he is much more open to dis- cussing these things now. Before, he just rejected all efforts to renegotiate things,” he added.

When asked if he was talking about the water issue, Dr Mahathir replied: “Water and other issues.”

Asked if Singapore had agreed on a revision, the Prime Minister said Singapore did not say they agreed, “but they appear to be willing to state their case and for us to state our case”.

Asked about the next step toward renegotiation, he said officials from Malaysia and Singapore would meet to discuss the issue.

In June, Dr Mahathir declared that Malaysia would renegotiate the water supply agreement with Singapore, telling Bloomberg in an interview that the price of water sold was ridiculous and would be among the issues with Singapore that Malaysia needed to settle.

Malaysia has always felt that the 1962 water agreement was lopsided. Another agreement signed in 1961 had already lapsed in 2011.

The 1962 deal, which expires in 2061, gives Singapore 250 million gallons of raw water daily at 3 sen per 1,000 gallons. Malaysia buys back a portion of that, treated, at 50 sen per 1,000 gallons.

Singapore has always maintained that Malaysia lost its right to review the price of raw water sold under the 1962 agreement in 1987.

In his remarks at a luncheon hosted by Lee, Dr Mahathir praised Singapore for being a good neighbour and lending a helping hand when Malaysia needed it.

“Malaysia and Singapore are like twins. We have been able to live together and help each other.

“It is not easy to see countries come together and separate, and still able to work together and help each other.”

Dr Mahathir said while it was important to maintain good ties, along the way there would be some differences and competition.

“But competition always helps. It helps us to make every effort to win in any competition,” he added.

Lee said relationship between Singapore and Malaysia was further strengthened by bonds of kinship, friendship and memories.

“We all have friends and relatives who live, study or work across the Causeway and we feel at home when we visit each other,” he added.

Some of Singapore’s Cabinet members were born and raised in Malaysia, he noted, while several Malaysian ministers were born in Singapore, grew up or studied here.

He also said Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali met in Singapore, studying at the King Edward VII College of Medicine, now part of the National University of Singapore.

“When we met in May, Dr Mahathir spoke fondly about his time at the college and his old classmates whom he kept in touch with for many years, but had not seen for a while,” he added.