Press Statement
by DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock
in Petaling Jaya
on Saturday, November 02, 2002

Water talks breakdown: Call on the Foreign Minister to make a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on coming Tuesday

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that the government would look into the implications if Malaysia broke the water agreements signed between Malaysia and Singapore.

Such comments have followed Singapore's Foreign Minister Professor Jayakumar's statements in the Singapore Parliament claiming among other things that Malaysia had lost the legal right for a water price review.

The comments by both the leaders are a clear indication that the water agreements negotiations, which have been going on, have broken down or reached a serious stalemate.

There will certainly be negative impact and implications for both Malaysia and Singapore if the water talks finally results in Malaysia having to break the agreements or the issue having to be fought out in the International Court of Jurists.

As both countries have been able to solve many issues in the past through bilateral negotiations, efforts to iron out the disagreements through bilateral talks should continue.

Malaysian Members Parliament from both government and Opposition sides will, I have no doubt, fully support the interest of their country and people. The government must therefore lay its case before the Parliament and fully brief our MPs as to the reasons and factors which have caused the talks to breakdown.

Since Singapore has pinned the blame for the breakdown on Malaysia, I therefore call on the Foreign Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar to make a Ministerial Statement in the Parliament on coming Tuesday and give a complete picture of the water negotiations.

Syed Hamid should also inform the Parliament what are Malaysia's response to the statements made by Professor Jayakumar two days ago in the Singapore Parliament as his statements, if not rebutted, will put Malaysia in a negative light.

Syed Hamid Albar should let the Malaysian lawmakers know why Johor had not exercised its right to review the price in accordance with the agreements in 1986 and 1987, as claimed by Singapore.