Water talk

I always thought that it was Singapore who does not want to increase the price of the water bought from Malaysia. I believe all other Malaysian would think so due to some...ah hem, story teller (prop@ganda).


Here's the story our government never tell us. The conversation below is fictitious, so please do not quote me.


Four years of Malaysia's flip-flops
December 1998
Malaysia wants all outstanding issues, including the future supply of water to Singapore, resolved as a package. Singapore agrees.


"You want 45 sen per thousand gallons? Okay"
"Deal"

August 2000
SM Lee Kuan Yew and Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad agree to a price of 45 sen per thousand gallons for current and future water.

After half a year...
"45 sen very low! not fair to us. i want to increase to 60 sen!"
Talk about who's the one breaking promise...

February 2001
Malaysia wants to increase the price to 60 sen per thousand gallons of raw water and for the price to be reviewed every five years.


"Okay, you want 60 sen? we'll increase to 45 sen for now, and increase to 60 sen after year 2061, k?"
"Deal"

September 2001
SM Lee and Dr Mahathir agree that Singapore will pay 45 sen per thousand gallons of current water, in return for Malaysia's promise to supply water to Singapore beyond 2061 at 60 sen per thousand gallons.


"We wan you to pay 60 sen from now! Not only that, we also want to increase to 3 ringgit for 4 years! after that we see how."
Half a year later, Malaysia broke the promise again

March 2002
Malaysia wants an immediate increase to 60 sen per thousand gallons of raw water. From 2007 to 2011, Malaysia wants 3 ringgits per thousand gallons; and after 2011, for the price to be adjusted annually for inflation.


Taiwan bought water from China at RM10 (around there). Malaysia think they should do the same
"Soli ar, last time gave the wrong price, should be 6.25 riggit. See, Taiwan buy water from China also at 10 ringgit. this is the market rate, cannot go cheaper lah."

September 2002
Malaysia wants to increase the price to 6.25 ringgits per thousand gallons of current raw water.


How would you expect Singapore to respond when Malaysia suddenly want to increase the price by 1500%? Just like you go market buy fish, talk for half an hour liao, suddenly the fish seller want to increase the fish price from 1 ringgit to 15 ringgit
"Aiyah, we fren fren, dun talk about water."

October 8, 2002
Dr Mahathir says he wants to take water out of bilateral package of issues.


Dr Mahathir says, "Why you take so long to decide ar, dun wan to talk with you liao."

October 10, 2002
Dr Mahathir tells Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong that he wants to discontinue the bilateral package.



Of course I'm not totally sided to Singapore cause I've yet to go through the detailed correspondence between Singapore and Malaysia on the water talk. I really hope Malaysia can learn the lesson.