Water talks cannot be based on M'sia's interests: S'pore
Little will be achieved at the next round of water talks between Malaysia and Singapore if the former is not willing to discuss future water supply after 2061.
The republic's Foreign Ministry said that the city-state was only prepared to discuss the current price of water as a trade-off if Malaysia was prepared to have a serious discusion about future water supply after the 1962 pact expires in 2061.
Singapore was responding to comments by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar yesterday that at the next round of talks Malaysia was only prepared to negotiate raising current prices. Talks is expected to be held early December.
In the previous talks in Johor last month, Malaysia insisted on discussing only current
water price, and to delay talks on future water supply to just two years before the current agreement expires in 2061. Singapore found this unacceptable.
Syed Hamid had said that Malaysia was only willing to discuss a future pact after Singapore accepts its right to review current water prices.
He also said if Singapore does not agree, Malaysia is prepared to walk away from the talks.
Seeking clarification
According to Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia , the republic had made it clear on many occassions that Malaysia has lost its right to review current prices.
"Otherwise, if Malaysia sticks to its current position, then little will be achieved at the next meeting because for progress to be achieved, discussions cannot be based on the interests of one side", said the report.
The report added that Singapore's High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur will convey this to Wisma Putra and try to clarify Malaysia's position.
Both Malaysia and Singapore signed agreements, in 1961 and 1962, for the supply of water from Johor at three sen per 1,000 gallons. Malaysia is now asking for a price review, claiming that the amount paid by Singapore is too low on present day standards.
Previous rounds of talks collapsed after failure to agree on the precise agenda, and after Malaysia decided to unbundle a six-issue package that had included Malayan Railway land in Singapore, Singapore's use of Malaysian air space, a bridge replacing the Causeway and Malaysians' Central Provident Fund money.
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