The long standing feud between Malaysia and Singapore over the water issue remains a sore point in bilateral relations between the two neighbours.

So it is understandable and necessary o­n Singapore's part to embark o­n its water ambition so that it would not be overly dependent o­n Malaysia for supply.

Yesterday, Singapore's Environment Minister Lim Swee Say proudly declared that the island nation can be self-sufficient in water by 2061 when the second of the two water agreements with Malaysia expires.

"Singaporeans don't need to worry about whether we'll have enough drinking water in the future," Lim said.

According to a Straits Times report, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) had enlarged water catchment areas in Singapore, planned more Newater plants, and awarded a contract for the

supply of desalinated sea water, even before the earlier of Singapore's two water agreements with Malaysia expires.

"Well before 2011, we'll be able to produce more than enough water to replace the volume of water imported in the first agreement from Malaysia," Lim added.

By 2012, two-thirds of the island will be water catchment areas, up from the current half.