'Recycled' Newater, new problems

Sin Chew Daily, Asia News Network, Selangor

Singapore's Newater came as a cool surprise to the tiny city state plagued by economic downturn and sultry August heat.

Newater was an unexpected gift to Singaporeans, who were given each a bottle of the republic's future "water of life" at their national day celebrations nationwide.

Water supply is not too much a problem nowadays in Singapore and her citizens can claim having high quality tap water, thanks to the continuous supply from across the causeway.

However, with the water supply issue frequently laid out on the negotiation table, Singaporeans are getting increasingly restless, fearing that their taps will run dry one day.

Whenever the relationship with Malaysia takes a wrong turn, Singaporeans will begin to pray that their reservoirs won't run dry.

As such, Singaporeans take the Newater in their stride, despite the fact that it is recycled from used water. Understandably, it is better to drink recycled water than to die of thirst. By the way, who will actually bother how the water has been processed?

Once we know the characteristics of Singaporeans, it is not difficult to understand why they drink the "water from kitchen" so heartily.

The pride of Singaporeans which comes with the emergence of Newater is not something officials on this side of the causeway finds easy to swallow, indeed.

Does the Newater give the republic a diplomatic edge over its bigger brother across the causeway? Singaporeans and their leaders are not that simple-minded.

Water supply is an issue that haunts both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Often, the issue just stands in the way of a few other outstanding "historical" issues which are almost settled but have failed half way through.

The absence of the tacky issue is believed to help soothe the negotiation atmosphere between both countries.

While some Malaysian officials might not be too happy with Newater, once the initial reactions begin to cool, everything will still have to be put on the negotiation table.

Reality is always cruel. If Johor is able to produce cheaper alternative to Newater, there is no reason Singapore will choose not to buy from us.

There is similarly no good reason for Johor not to make additional bucks from the city state unless they believe it's better to let the water drain into South China Sea than to sell to their haughty neighbors.

Of course, many may also feel that Malaysia needs not make those extra bucks selling water to Singapore.

In short, Newater brings along with it new uncertainties and new problems.

The bilateral relationship should head for the better where the water supply issue no longer stands in the way. What we worry is that some unhappy officials may begin to cook up things once again.

Cross-border relationship should be built upon the foundation of win-win principle, a simple theory any rational leader knows well.