On Tuesday (April 25, 2006), Matthias Chang, former political secretary to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, pointed out that Malaysia was incompetent in dealings with Singapore.

"Fuzi's statement is clear evidence that Malaysia was incompetent in every particular and was repeatedly outflanked and out manoeuvred by the Singapore negotiation team.

"It did not, at any point, contradict what I said (April 18, 2006) and confirmed every particular and documents that I cited.

"And having cited these documents, confirms my stand that we are no longer bound by the Official Secrets Act (OSA) because Wisma Putra has brought these documents into the public domain.

"The only new document cited by Ahmad Fuzi was the Diplomatic Note dated Nov 29, 2004. However, let it be said here and now as a preliminary point of rebuttal - this letter does not change the main thrust of my criticism that we were ill-prepared and ill-advised in Malaysia's negotiations with Singapore," he said.

Even without full disclosure of all the documents involved, it is clear that Malaysia did not have a comprehensive strategy in dealing with Singapore and have not learnt from past experiences, he said.

"Singapore seems to have the right and privilege to agree and then disagree whereas Malaysia having agreed to any one point and or issue, must be held to the bargain and cannot disassociate from it even when circumstances have changed.

"But Singapore has the freedom and the legitimacy to run circles around Malaysia and make fools out of us," Chang added.

He said Malaysia lost out in terms of the livelihood of fishermen, development of Johor and its two ports and marine life.

"Singapore won ... They never wanted the bridge. Let this be a lesson to never again let Malaysia be dragged to mud," he said, adding that we were "suckered by hook, line and sinker by Singapore through the limited package approach."

"Why drag on a useless negotiation when way back in 2003 itself, there was already a hint by Singapore that they would be playing hardball with us as proven by the Nov 29, 2004 Diplomatic Note.

"Sand was a totally new issue. By linking airspace and a new factor, Singapore had trapped Malaysia into adopting a Ôlimited package approach' because only two issues were linked - airspace and sand," he said, asking for disclosure of advice from the Attorney-General or legal experts.

Also present was Zainur Zakaria, former counsel of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who observed the proceedings before saying something at the end of the two-hour long conference.

"The people cannot be blamed. When did they ask the people to decide? What are the facts which were put to the people to decide this?

"The government must provide them with information ... You cannot say it is their decision without providing the information.

"It is time, if it has not been done before, that we want to know the truth - what are the facts on which the government made its decision on?" Zainur questioned.

Asked why he was there, he said: "I am here because it is a matter of interest. I want to know what the government does, since it claims that it is my (the rakyat's) decision."

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