Singapore-Malaysia ties thicker than water?

The exchange of words over the 1962 water agreement is nothing more than a brotherly spat, says historian Khoo Kay Kim.

Water pipes run along the causeway between Singapore and Johor, transporting up to 946 million litres of water each day. (Reuters pic)

PETALING JAYA: Historian Khoo Kay Kim has dismissed the latest rumbling between Malaysia and Singapore as a mere tiff, the kind that occasionally happens between siblings.The Universiti Malaya emeritus professor said the exchange of words over the two countries’ water agreement was “not a big issue” and should not cause alarm among Malaysians and Singaporeans.

Speaking to FMT, he noted that the two countries had a long history of disputes going back to the days when they were colonies of Britain.

Khoo Kay Kim.

“The British made Singapore its administrative centre, so they were dictating terms all the time,” he said, adding that this was why the Malayan states did not agree to Singapore’s inclusion in the Malayan Union and later in the Federated States of Malaysia.

Nevertheless, he said, Malaysia should treat Singapore with sympathy for its lack of natural resources. “We should always sell water to them. Otherwise, they’ll be in trouble.”

However, he called for a “more reasonable” arrangement.

“We sell them raw water cheap and buy the treated water back at a much higher price,” he said. “They must pay a fairer price.”

On Monday, the Singapore foreign ministry said in a media statement that the two countries should abide by an agreement made in 1962, under which Malaysia has to sell raw water to Singapore at 3 sen per 1,000 gallons until 2061.

The statement was issued after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly criticised the deal as “too costly” for Malaysia.

Under the deal, Singapore is allowed to draw up to 250 million gallons of raw water a day from the Johor river and Johor is entitled to buy treated water in amounts of up to 2% of the raw water supplied.

According to a 2003 document available on the Singapore foreign ministry website, the country sells treated water to Johor for 50 sen per 1,000 gallons. It says the cost of treatment is RM2.40 per 1,000 gallons.

Malaysia was entitled to seek a revision of prices in 1987, but did not do so. However, Mahathir, who was prime minister then, sought a revision in 2000.

Singapore responded by offering a package proposal. This would entail, among other things, the continued sale of water for 100 years after 2061 and a revision of water prices, the use of Malaysian airspace by Singapore’s air force, and the building of the so-called crooked bridge between Johor and the republic.

However, Mahathir reportedly decided against the proposal in October 2002. -FMT