Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad today lambasted Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin over the latter's call for ministers to speak out on the current tensions with Singapore over disputed waters.

Saying that it was as if Khairy had just snapped out of his "dream," the Amanah international bureau chairperson asked why he and BN ministers did not stand up to Singapore when in power.

"Khairy, with so much passion, has urged Pakatan Harapan ministers to speak out against Singapore's actions concerning the Tuas waters and the Seletar airspace. 

"So congratulations to Khairy for snapping out of his dream after years of being a minister, for he has only now realised that those in government should protest against Singapore's actions of encroaching upon Malaysia's airspace and waters...," his statement read.

"The question is, why did Khairy and other Umno ministers do that when they were in power? 

"Especially since Khairy was the youth and sports minister, who should think about the future generations of Malaysians."

Yesterday, Khairy tweeted that ministers should speak out on the current tensions with Singapore over the waters off Tuas. 

Singapore had accused Malaysia of altering port limits for the Johor Bahru Port, claiming that there have been 14 intrusions in the disputed waters thus far.

The republic then extended the Tuas Port's limits in retaliation. 

On Friday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen "strongly cautioned" Malaysian vessels against "encroaching" into Singaporean waters.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah responded by urging both countries to stop sending assets into the disputed waters pending discussions on the maritime boundary.

Singapore shot down the proposal, but said it was ready to discuss the matter.

'External pressure'

In his statement, Raja Bahrin also cited the High-speed Rail (HSR) project inked by the BN administration, saying that studies showed that it would benefit Singapore more than Malaysia. 

"Why would Malaysia be willing to spend almost RM90 billion, and Singapore only RM10 billion, if the benefits (from the project) are to be enjoyed by the latter?

"Why did Khairy and Umno cabinet ministers did not speak up on this issue when they were in power? It was the Harapan administration that postponed the project," he pointed out.

Raja Bahrin accused Khairy of attempting to fuel tensions between leaders of both countries, and claimed that the opposition was hoping that "external pressure" would be exerted upon the Harapan administration.