Flexibility 'can help Malaysia-Singapore ties': Dr Mahathir

Both sides must be willing to see each other's point of view, he told the Straits Times and Business Times in an interview here ahead of Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's visit on Monday.

"There must be areas for compromise or there is no point talking at all. We are prepared not to be rigid and we expect that both sides must do it ... Being flexible is being willing to give up something to gain something."

He said there was a feeling in Singapore that Malaysia would stop water supply to the republic on the expiry of the existing agreement in 2061. This, he said, was not Malaysia's intention, and he was willing to negotiate if it was not to Kuala Lumpur's disadvantage.

He added: "We can't imagine us on a particular date switching off everything. That will result in total disaster. We don't do that to our neighbours. Obviously, we want to see what is the benefit to us when the new agreement is negotiated."

Dr Mahathir also said Malaysia had a different interpretation of the Points of Agreement (POA) signed with Singapore in 1990.

The pact, signed by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, spelt out clearly the terms on the development and status of land owned by Malayan Railway (KTM) in Singapore.

Under the agreement, KTM land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands will be developed jointly by the two countries.

Problems later arose when Dr Mahathir sought to change the agreement, including his proposal to build an electric train track from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and beyond for a trans-Asian railway.

In a speech to the Singapore Parliament in June last year, Mr Goh said the electric train and other changes would require an amendment to the POA. This, he pointed out, could create legal and political difficulties.

But he had made it clear that such difficulties could be overcome within a framework for wider cooperation between the two countries, and this could include Malaysia selling water to Singapore beyond 2061. Dr Mahathir yesterday said the differences over the POA need not be a stumbling block to better Singapore-Malaysia ties, which became strained over Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's statements last year about crime in Johor.

Asked what was needed to improve bilateral ties, he replied: "Well, if we can agree on some compromise and interpretation, then I think it will move us forward ... interpretation on the POA as well as make necessary flexible adjustments. For Malaysia, provided we don't lose too much, we are prepared to be flexible."

Asked what he meant by "lose", he said: "Obviously, national interest must be given weightage."

Asked if he wanted the POA to be revised totally, he replied: "We'll look at it ... We are quite prepared to examine it and to see the other point of view."

Malaysia and Singapore could work for better ties, and both could compete with and complement each other, he added.

On the Malaysian Customs checks which caused massive traffic jams at the Johor Causeway recently, he said Malaysia had to do this, just as Singapore felt it was necessary to check the petrol tanks of cars crossing the Causeway.

"There is no valid reason for saying that one side contributes to this thing. Both sides had done certain things which are not looked upon well by the other side."

But these problems could be resolved, he said, and that was why he was meeting Mr Goh.

Dr Mahathir said bilateral relations now were much better compared to last year.

Asked if there was much historical baggage since Separation in 1965 that has to be cast aside, he said: "We can cast aside, we can forget, but we should not create new things that cause complications."

On toll charges for the Second Link, he said these must be reasonable. He declined to say what a reasonable charge was, but he said the huge investment to build the bridge had to be recovered.

The proposed toll charges, according to Malaysian press reports, are M$8 (S$3.24) for cars, M$20 for buses and vans, and M$50 for big lorries.

Published in the Straits Times. February 14, 1998