No doubt Singapore may have the right to do what it wants on its own shores. But I do not think I would require a mind for rocket science to imagine that the narrowing of the passageway must have consequences on shores beyond the reach of Singapore, from the very little understanding I have of water finding its own level and so on.

Notwithstanding the possibility of making the passageway more hazardous for large ships approaching Malaysian ports on that straits, I would imagine high tides in future, with heavy rains on the hinterland, can have consequences beyond the control or responsibility of Singapore.

At this time the least Singapore can do to appease worried Malaysians is to provide immediately their environmental impact assessment reports which dwell on the impact their land reclamation works will have on Malaysia, its people, its hinterland and its passageways.

After all, Singapore has been screaming out more than anyone else when its sorry sight of real estate is completely covered in smoke from the burning jungles of Sumatra and Malaysia. If it then felt it had the right to state its position under those circumstances, surely Malaysia, too, can use the very same reasoning to state its stand.

As surely Singapore expects the Indonesian government to act on its complaints over the smoke getting into their eyes, Malaysia too can expect the Singapore government to act on her complaints. If indeed Singapore expects Malaysia to back off because it has the legitimate right to do what ever within their territorial waters, then of course Malaysia and Indonesia, too, can tell the Singaporeans to back off over the fires within their territories.

So, to Mind Reader, I think you cant really fault Mahathir

on this one. After all, lesser members of his flock as well as his own deputy were given first shot over this issue, to which we all know Singapores response...Maybe it might just take Mahathir a little bit more seriously; after all we are only too aware of what he is capable of. At least in his own chicken house, we know!