IS A FAIR PRICE FOR WATER TOO MUCH TO ASK?

Utusan Malaysia reported Johor State Government decided to increase the price of raw water, to Singapore. Since 1962 Singapore is paying $0.03 per 1,000 gallon is a ridiculous price.

A good bilateral relationship is clearly difficult if Singapore continually portrays Malaysia at home and abroad as a big bully, a country that does not play fair, and a nation incapable of abiding by international agreements.

Throughout the years of negotiation, Malaysia has always tried to be a good and generous neighbour. Malaysia has never in its history interrupted the supply of water to Singapore. Malaysia will never stop the supply of water to Singapore. That is the promise made by Malaysia, as stated by Malaysia’s Prime Minister.

Malaysia has never tried to take advantage of Singapore need’s need for water. Malaysia has never breached any of its legal commitments. Despite fluctuations in bilateral ties, Malaysia has never withheld from Singapore a single drop of water.

In the future, Malaysia is happy if Singapore continues to source water from Johor or if, because it does not like the price, Singapore decides not to buy a single gallon.

A torrent of rhetoric, allegation and occasional misrepresentation has muddled the central question : Can any person on this earth, in this day and age, truthfully say that 3 Malaysian sen- or 1.4 Singapore cents or 0.8 cents US cent – is a fair price to pay for 1,000 gallons of water?

All we ask for is a fair price, a fair deal.