KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- The Government has not decided when to resume negotiations with Singapore on the water issue, Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday.
He said the Government had taken action through negotiations to review the water pact with Singapore but the ongoing talks since 1990s had failed to show fruition.
The water agreements between Johor and Singapore, signed in 1961 and 1962, would lapse in 2011 and 2061, respectively.
"The Government is studying further steps to find a solution to the long-standing issue, whether to bring it to arbitration or to re-start the talks although Johor no longer depended on treated water from Singapore and the republic too has its own source of water -- Newater," said Ahmad Shabery.
He was replying to Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Ketereh) who wanted to know whether the Government proposed to re-visit the water pact with neighbouring Singapore.
On stalled talks with Singapore on the ownership claim to Pulau Batu Putih and the customs, immigration and quarantine complex, Ahmad Shabery said the Government had decided not to discuss the issues for the moment.
"For the time being, these issues will be put aside until we resolve the construction of a bridge to replace the Johor Causeway which has been tied to granting airspace and supplying sand to Singapore.
"These sticky issues created a lot of pressure on both sides of the causeway, with Malaysians responding emotionally.
"That's why we've decided to put aside these issues and will not discuss them until we feel the people's feelings have been nursed over time before we start fresh negotiations," he added.
tunku : what an answer from shabery, we put aside these issue and will not discuss them till we feel the people's feelings have been nursed over the time. this is the tactic pak lah administration is doing, wait and wait till people forgets about it.but pak lah we will not forget about it until these matters resolved.what is our RIGHTS we have to defend it no matter what.we ask to review the water agreement because that is our right,we ask to construct the bridge and demolish the causeway, that is our right, CIQ, Batu Putih we have the right. But airspace and sand Singapore DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT. so what are you people waiting for?
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1 comment:
Berkemungkinan besar tunku, this matter will be procastinated until Pak Lah expired (from office!!) Definitely we can't afford to offend our best neighbour. During this very era , as claimed by both leaders ,s'pore and Malaysia, is where the bilateral relationship is at its best, and it is going to be cherished further with the establishment of WPI which could be considered as the New Territory of Singapore since she don't have enough land to support the presence of chinese from mainland who are specially brought over to reside in Singapore ( sort of increment of modal insan!). Thats why we can observe the sudden emergence of instant sporsmen and women representing S'pore in the international meet.
Kalau dimulakan water talk sekarang , berkemungkinan besar harsh words will be exchanged and the government can't afford to to take the risk of jeoperdising the h
'healthy relationship' with S'pore now. So bersabarlah kita , tunku, the time will tel!!!
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