Malaysia says Singapore to blame for delay in talks

CHANNEL NEWS ASIA March 13, 2000.

MALAYSIA has blamed Singapore for a delay in resuming talks on a variety of disputes and denies that upcoming Malaysian leadership elections are to blame, reports said on Monday.

"The perception that we are laying aside negotiations due to party elections must be corrected," the New Straits Times quoted Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar as saying.

Singapore's Foreign Minister S Jayakumar said last week Singapore wanted to resolve the longstanding issues as soon as possible.

But Professor Jayakumar said "it would seem that the immediate priority of the Malaysians" was a meeting in May of the ruling United Malays National Organisation to choose top leaders.

Officials have not met since May last year, Professor Jayakumar said.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia had made several proposals. "But to progress we must rely on the commitment of the other party."

He said water was the sticking point, with Malaysia wanting to sell the island republic treated water so that it reaped more benefits from the deal.

Syed Hamid, commenting on Sunday on Professor Jayakumar's statement that it was Malaysia's turn to host the next round of talks, said it was pointless to meet if there was nothing to be discussed.

"If we talk about achieving a win-win situation, there must be give and take," he added. "We have given a lot (on other issues in dispute)."

He said Malaysia would keep trying trying to make progress but asked Singapore to stop blaming the UMNO meeting for any complications.

Later, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (MFA) said its glad to hear now that the Malaysian Government is proceeding with the matter of talks between Singapore and Malaysia on resolving bilateral issues as a package, and that it remains focused on discussions.

MFA said it was also encouraged to note the Malaysian government is not laying aside the negotiations due to UMNO party elections in May this year.

However MFA said Singapore has always been accommodating, like in new Malaysian requests on issues such as railway land and CPF.

Mr Syed Hamid had said it was pointless to meet if Singapore had refused to accommodate Malaysia's needs.

And referring to the comment that Malaysia needs to meet its own water needs first, MFA said Singapore has always told Malaysia that the request for water beyond 2061 is contingent on Malaysia satisfying its own needs first.

Dr Mahathir had said Malaysia would meet Singapore's long term water needs when Singapore and Malaysia's Prime Ministers met and agreed on resolving outstanding issues as a package in Hanoi in 1998.

Hong Kong Standard. March 14:

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad urged Singapore yesterday to compromise so a series of disputes between the two countries can be settled.

``Issues get difficult to be resolved if we are the ones who have to compromise each time,'' he said.

''(They) want Malaysia to compromise but the other party refuses to compromise . . . it's a little difficult,'' Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency in the southern state of Johor.

Among contentious issues are water supplies from Malaysia to Singapore, customs, immigration and quarantine arrangements on a railway linking them, withdrawal of pensions of Malaysian workers in Singapore and the use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean aircraft.

Dr Mahathir also denied Malaysia's upcoming ruling party leadership elections are to blame for the delay in holding talks.

Agence France-Presse  
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