The Singapore jitterbug

The Singapore jitterbug

Unless and until the issue of the supply of water by Malaysia
to Singapore is fully resolved, the bilateral agenda for both
countries will be reduced to just fixing new dates for the next
round of talks to find a solution to the matter.

It appears that progress is still at a snail's pace despite
Singapore relenting to a certain extent at the second round of
talks it hosted last month when it agreed to specifically discuss
the upward review of the price of water. And in the meantime,
there are still fuzzy signals that quick solutions are not in the
pipeline.

Take yesterday's statement by Singapore Prime Minister Goh
Chok Tong that the republic is not against a price review --
provided it stays part of a comprehensive settlement of the
remaining issues between the two countries.

The price at which water is now being sold to Singapore is
indefensible and its market-based correction has become a matter
of national interest, whether it is tied up in a "package" or
not.

Whether Singapore has the legal right to ask for reasons and
call for fresh elements, such as Newater and desalinated water,
to be factored into the calculations is not an issue here. What
is most important is that it should disabuse itself of the "one
step forward, two steps back" tactic it appears to be playing. It
is long past time for the two neighbors to move on.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur